Old friends can never be forgotten. In the morning of May 26, 2013, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who was visiting Germany, found some time from his tight schedule to meet with his old German friends.
23 years ago, Li Keqiang led a Chinese youth delegation visiting Germany. They were received by Rainer Dold and his colleagues who were then working in the German youth league. They were nicely and deeply impressed by each other.
Dold presented Li Keqiang six photos taken by the time of the then visit. Looking closely into the photos one by one, Li Keqiang recalled the happy moments of discussing Chinese and German cultures and philosophies with German friends at the riverside by the University of Tuebingen. Li Keqiang said, This is the best gift from you. The friendship of the time when we were young is engraved in memory and can never be forgotten.
Dold thanked Li Keqiang for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet them. He said that he has worked at the German-Chinese Friendship Association for scores of years, witnessing all the time the rapid economic and social development of China, and more and more cooperative projects between the Association and China.
Li Keqiang said appreciatively, you have worked for years for China-Germany exchanges, with long-term enthusiasm and commitment to China-Germany friendship. I thank you for your contributions. With over 20 years passed, China-Germany relations have undergone tremendous changes and progress. The two countries enjoy in-depth cooperation in various fields, and the local-level and people-to-people exchanges have become an important cornerstone of the bilateral ties. I believe my visit this time will, like the last one, be an occasion to make more German friends and sow more seeds for friendship.
In conclusion of the meeting, Li Keqiang extended invitation to his old friends to visit China at a time of their convenience. He said passionately that, future belongs to the young people. everything we are doing today is for the future. We should make more efforts to push forward China-Germany youth exchanges, expecting for more fruits growing out from the seeds of China-Germany friendship.