BEIJING -- Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Dejiang met Thursday afternoon with Franz Fehrenbach, chairman of the board of management of German industrial giant Bosch Group.

Zhang welcomed the Bosch Group to explore closer cooperation with China in the equipment manufacturing and automotive industry, in an effort to realize mutual benefits for both sides.

As this year marks the beginning of China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), upgrading its manufacturing industry is one of its important tasks, he said.

Zhang hailed the achievements made in recent years in the cooperation between Bosch Group and China.

Franz Fehrenbach said Bosch Group is ready to deepen practical cooperation with China to push forward common development.