Germany's top diplomat in Beijing yesterday called for closer international co-operation with China, which he termed the 'new centre of global gravity'.
Volker Stanzel said engaging China was crucial to resolving global problems.
'China now is the centrepiece of a new centre of global gravity which consists of all the countries between Japan and Indonesia,' Mr Stanzel said.
'If we want to solve global problems such as migration problems, health problems, terrorism and other major questions such as international law, we need to do that together with China,' he told a German Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Hong Kong.
The ambassador said the mainland had seen itself as a victim of the international system for decades, but had also increased its interaction with that system.
'The modernisation of China corresponds to the changing new international system and China is now ready to engage in multilateralism,' he said.