Merkel arrives in China to discuss economy, eurozone

Feb 2, 2012, 2:42 GMT

Beijing - German Chancellor Angela Merkel was expected to seek China's help with the eurozone crisis on Thursday, as she arrived for talks on economic, financial and international political issues.

Merkel was scheduled to hold her main talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing Thursday afternoon following her speech on international economic and financial policy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), a state-run think-tank.

Talks with Wen on Thursday and President Hu Jintao on Friday were also expected to cover Iran, North Korea and other issues, while German officials said Merkel would raise concerns over China's recent human rights record.

State media on Thursday warned that China was unlikely to purchase large volumes of European bonds unless the European Union could demonstrate greater unity on reforming its financial system and spurring growth.

'The EU has a unified currency, but it doesn't have a unified finance system to ensure every country sticks to its promise to cut their deficits,' the Global Times newspaper quoted Shen Jiru, a CASS researcher, as saying.

But Shen said Merkel shared 'a similar idea with China that European countries have to take reforms before outside help can come in.'

Her visit was 'a good opportunity for her to explain to Chinese leaders and investors how the EU will handle the crisis,' he was quoted as saying.

Merkel was accompanied by a large business delegation and planned to visit German companies in the southern province of Guangdong on Friday.

The visit is her fifth to China in the seven years she has been Germany's chancellor.

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