Xi's week-long trip expands consensus on building better world

HAMBURG, Germany - The logo of this year's Group of 20 (G20) summit is a six-color reef knot, while last year in Hangzhou, China, it was an arch bridge. The different designs apparently convey the same message: interconnectedness.

The Hamburg summit took place as the global economy saw the best performance since the 2008 financial crisis, yet experts warn that the foundations for future growth remain weak.

The violent protests that rocked the streets of the German port city have also reflected that while globalization has helped generate unprecedented prosperity worldwide, a more inclusive global economic growth now seems to be a more pressing priority.

For the past week, whether at Moscow and Berlin for state visits, or in Hamburg for the G20 gathering, Chinese President Xi Jinping has demonstrated China's readiness to join the rest of the world in building a better world for everyone.

FORGING STRONGER PARTNERSHIPS

In Moscow, Xi described China's relationship with Russia now as "the best ever in history." He also agreed with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to continue deepening the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination.

The two presidents also decided to further align the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union, and build bilateral ties into a ballast stone for world peace and stability.

While visiting Germany, Xi told German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the development of China-Germany ties over the decades is a "story of success" that has delivered real benefits to the two peoples.

Xi and Merkel agreed to step up bilateral cooperation within the Belt and Road Initiative framework, and ensure a steady development of the comprehensive strategic partnership the two sides forged in 2014 when Xi visited the European country for the first time as China's president.

To encourage more robust people-to-people exchanges between the Chinese and the Germans, the two leaders also inaugurated a newly furbished panda garden in the Berlin Zoo, and watched a soccer match between Chinese and German youth teams.