Merkel Discusses Global Financial Crisis in China

Following her meeting with Premier Wen Jiabao, Merkel said cooperation with China was of utmost importance to Germany and that working together was the key to overcoming the present financial crisis.

She is due to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday. Her visit comes ahead of the Asia-Europe summit, which also starts on Friday.

The trip to China is also Merkel's first since she met with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama last year. The meeting led to a period of strained ties between the two nations.