SHENYANG, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday sent congratulatory letters on breaking ground for a new BMW Brilliance plant in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

"BMW Group has become the first beneficiary since China relaxed the joint-venture equity limit for the automobile sector, starting a new journey for the integrated development and mutually beneficial cooperation of the auto manufacturing sectors of China and Germany," Li said in the letter.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up, Li said, adding that China will open its door wider and wider, further relax market access and create an equal and constantly optimized business environment for domestic and overseas companies.

"Foreign companies are welcome to expand cooperation with China to better realize mutual development," Li said.

Merkel said the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement between Brilliance Auto and BMW in July 2018 witnessed by Li and herself sent a clear signal for the two countries to develop stable and long-term win-win economic cooperation and partnership.

Germany welcomes China's deepening of its reform and opening-up and the relaxation of market access, and hopes the bilateral cooperation can produce new achievements, Merkel said.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new BMW Brilliance plant in Tiexi district in the city of Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province, was held on Thursday.