China's top leaders on Thursday offered German
Chancellor Angela Merkel cautious support for the EU's efforts to
resolve the eurozone debt crisis.
China was willing to invest more in European Union government
bonds "on condition of fully evaluating the risks," state media
quoted Premier Wen Jiabao as saying during talks with Merkel.
The Chinese government would expand consultations with the EU, the
European Central Bank, international financial organizations and
"major countries" to support indebted EU member states, Wen said.
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and Chinese Vice
Premier Wang Qishan also discussed the European economic situation,
bilateral financial cooperation, and coordination in the Group of 20,
the International Monetary Fund and other multilateral organizations.
Merkel was scheduled to hold talks with China's central bank
governor, finance minister and other finance officials over dinner
later Thursday.
Chinese President Hu Jintao told Merkel that the EU's early
recovery from its debt crisis would be "helpful for the stability and
recovery of the global economy, as well as for China's economic
development."
"China firmly supports what Europe has tried to tackle the crisis,
and it supports the important role played by the IMF and other
organizations in resolving the European debt issue," state
broadcaster China Central Television quoted Hu as saying.
China was willing to cooperate with the international community to
prevent further risks and stabilize global finance, Hu said.
Merkel arrived in Beijing Thursday for her second visit to China
this year. She was accompanied by the biggest German delegation to
visit the country.
More than 20 German and Chinese ministers and senior officials
also held group talks, chaired by Merkel and Wen.
Germany appreciated the "constructive attitude" of China towards
the EU debt crisis and its support for European integration, said a
joint statement by the two governments after the talks.
"China recognizes the German role in dealing with the debt crisis
in the eurozone and the comprehensive stabilization measures taken by
the EU member states," the statement said.
Wen was quoted as saying China and Germany had forged "hard won"
trade and investment cooperation in recent years "under unfavourable
international economic circumstances."
"Therefore, the significance (of bilateral economic cooperation)
exceeds the range of the two countries," he said.
"China-Germany ties enjoy broad prospects and will reach a new
height," Wen said.
Merkel's talks with Wen also focussed on trade and Syria.
The two sides signed 13 official agreements on Thursday, covering
cooperation in trade, science and technology, culture, climate
change, social security and other sectors.
China's ICBC Leasing, part of the state-run Industrial and
Commercial Bank of China, agreed to buy 50 Airbus A320 planes, which
have a total list price of 3.5 billion dollars.
China also signed an agreement to extend the life of an Airbus
assembly plant in the northern city of Tianjin, the two governments
said.
Merkel was scheduled to visit the Airbus assembly plant on Friday
after travelling to Tianjin with Wen by high-speed train.
Dozens of German business executives were travelling with Merkel
in a delegation of more than 100 people.
Ahead of the visit, both sides hailed the "special relationship"
developed between Germany and China, based on strong economic links
over the past 20 years.
