Merkel to visit China, co-chair intergovernmental consultations

BEIJING -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel will visit China from June 12 to 14 and co-chair a bilateral intergovernmental consultation with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

It will be Merkel's ninth visit to China since she took office, Hong Lei said at a regular news briefing.

In Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping and top legislator Zhang Dejiang will meet with Merkel. She will also visit Shenyang, capital of northeastern China's Liaoning Province, Hong said.

He said the consultation, established in 2011, is a dialogue mechanism aimed at coordinating and enhancing cooperation between the two countries. More than 20 ministers and vice ministers from both sides will be present at this edition.

In recent years, the China-Germany relationship has witnessed a rapid development with frequent high-level exchanges, the spokesperson said. In March, German President Joachim Gauck visited China, strengthening political mutual trust.

Hong suggested China and Germany, the host country of the Group of 20 summit in 2016 and 2017 respectively, maintain closer coordination in global and regional affairs.

It serves the fundamental interests of both countries to strengthen bilateral cooperation, Hong said, adding it will benefit the China-EU relations and promote peace and prosperity in the world at large.

China attaches great importance to the development of ties with Germany, and stands ready to take the consultation as an opportunity to advance bilateral practical cooperation in various fields, he added.