BEIJING, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiaobao and his German counterpart Angela Merkel on Monday exchanged views over the phone on bilateral ties as well as international and regional issues of mutual concern.

    During the telephone conversation, Wen said that China and Germany are sharing more common interests and a brighter future for cooperation.

    The two countries should build confidence in the political field, boost economic and technological cooperation, and promote cultural exchanges, to elevate Chinese-German relations to a new level, Wen said.

    Merkel hailed the headway made during the annual session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) held in Beijing in earlier this month.

    The German government attaches great importance to China-Germany relations and is willing to beef up bilateral cooperation in fields like trade, environmental protection, mining security and the promotion of clean energy, Merkel said.

    During the call, Wen and Merkel also exchanged views on major international and regional issues, such as environmental change, the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, the Iranian nuclear issue and the conflict in the Sudanese region of Darfur.