Foreign minister: Trade is 'anchor' of relations with Germany

China on Friday called trade cooperation the "anchor" of its ties with Germany, saying that the two countries are partners rather than rivals.

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, addressing a joint news conference with his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, said artificially putting the brakes on normal economic and trade cooperation would be counterproductive.

The two foreign ministers held the sixth round of China-Germany Strategic Dialogue on Diplomacy and Security in Beijing during Baerbock's first official visit to the country.