Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan said on Wednesday that China will further cooperate with Germany to learn from Germany's experience in revitalizing old industrial belts to stimulate economic progress in northeast China. 

Zeng made the remarks at a seminar held in the capital of Jilin Province on Sino-German cooperation in revitalizing northeastern China's old industrial region, which includes the provinces of Jilin, Liaoning and Heilongjiang. Visiting German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder also spoke.

"Northeast China enjoys good natural condition and wide-ranged catalogue of industry," Zeng said. "Meanwhile, German companies have cutting-edge in fund, technology and management. The two economies are complementary and share broad industrial connection."

The northeast China provinces and their German partners have close trade and economic cooperation, he said, noting that German companies have invested 1.2 billion US dollars in about 300 projects in China's northeast region so far.

The Chinese senior official said that he hopes the northeast part of China and Germany will expand cooperation in energy and environmental protection, traffic, automobile, chemical, electronics and machinery and high-tech industry.

He urged the two sides to stimulate cooperation in reforming state-owned enterprises, developing modern agriculture and service industry and encouraging the small and medium-sized businesses to enhance cooperation.

Schroeder introduced Germany's experience in reforming its industrial bases, such as developing core competitiveness and enhance infrastructure construction, highlighting research and development and training on personnel.

German-Chinese cooperation in northeast China has had sound foundation, he said, noting the German government supports enterprises to participate in the revitalization progress of northeast China.

The northeast China was once pulling force on Chinese economy in the era of planned economy decades ago. However, it suffered high unemployment and other problems during China's reform and opening drive which has transformed Chinese into a market economy.

Schroeder left Changchun Wednesday noon, concluding his three-day working visit to China.