China and Germany will launch a comprehensive dialogue mechanism this year to enhance cooperation between the two countries.

The first such consultation, slated for July, will be co-chaired by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his German counterpart Angela Merkel, Wen said when meeting with visiting German Vice Chancellor Guido Westerwelle in Beijing Friday.

Senior Chinese and German officials in charge of diplomacy, economics, finance, science, technology, culture, education and social development will all take part in the dialogue.

The topics and scheduling of the consultation are still unknown but Wen said the mechanism "is designated to lay out a blueprint for the development of bilateral ties and institution of specific measures."

"I believe the consultation will be fruitful and will promote the Chinese-German strategic partnership," Wen told Westerwelle.

Westerwelle, who is currently on a three-day diplomatic trip to China, hailed bilateral exchanges and cooperation in such fields as politics, economics and culture.

Germany and China have also coordinated well on international and regional affairs, Westerwelle said.

As the first European country to establish inter-governmental consultations with China, Germany will strive to make the first round of consultations a success, Westerwelle said.