German chancellor concludes China visit

Jul 18, 2010, 5:31 GMT

Beijing - German Chancellor Angela Merkel left Shaanxi province Sunday morning, concluding a four-day China trip in which she met government and business leaders and signed agreements on trade, energy and the environment.

In the provincial capital Xi'an, Merkel accompanied Premier Wen Jiabao on an inspection tour of German and Chinese firms, including joint venture Siemens Signaling Company Ltd.

Merkel said the Siemens' factory was a sign of the good relationship between the two countries, and future prospects.

However, in an earlier meeting with Merkel and Wen, German and Chinese business executives criticized the market conditions in each country.

The German side criticized limited market access for foreign companies, while the Chinese executives, among others, complained about Germany's strict visa rules for Chinese citizens.

Wen immediately refuted the claims that China's investment environment is worsening.

'For those which have entered China, they all enjoy national treatment as Chinese companies do, no matter whether they are a foreign-funded company, a joint venture or a joint stock company, ' Wen was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.

Merkel's visit also saw the signing of 10 agreements including a 124-million-euro fund to encourage emissions reductions and energy saving in Chinese firms.

The two countries issued a 28-point joint communique calling for closer cooperation in politics - especially preventing climate change - business, culture and social matters.

In Xi'an, Merkel also visited the tomb of emperor Qin Shi Huang, the site of the famous terracotta warriors, Xinhua reported.