Beijing (AsiaNews /
Agencies) - The second visit of Angela Merkel to Beijing in less than 6 months
was marked by a large number of commercial contracts signed and by the alleged Chinese
support for European policy on Eurobonds as a way out of the crisis. However,
Chinese newspapers reported "concerns" expressed by the Communist
prime minister Wen Jiabao to the Chancellor: Wen said that his country
"would" buy European government debt "if the conditions are not
too risky."
The German leader arrived in Beijing
yesterday. She met the Prime Minister, President Hu Jintao and future leader Xi
Jinping, who during the communist congress in October should be crowned as the
next president of mainland China.
A large delegation of businessmen and ministers accompanied her for discussions
with their Chinese counterparts.
The talks, according a press statement, did not cover the Eurozone crisis or
the conflict in Syria.
Merkel said she was "convinced" of China's support and reiterated
after the meeting with Wen that "there is absolute political will to
strengthen the euro".
For its part, the Chinese premier said: "China is willing to continue to
invest in European government bonds after a full risk assessment. Beijing aims to improve
communication and consultation with the EU, ECB and member states to support
the 'European economy and help it to overcome the difficulties. "
However 13 cooperation agreements in various sectors were also signed. Airbus
has signed a contract with China
to the tune of 3.5 billion dollars for 50 commercial aircraft, while Merkel
made it clear that the controversy surrounding duties on Chinese imports
"should be resolved through dialogue and not through the international
courts."
In July, the German company SolarWorld and other European manufacturers of
solar panels lodged a complaint with to Brussels
for duties on solar panels made in China. The Commission has 45 days
to decide whether to initiate an investigation. Chinese exports of solar
products totaled 35.8 billion dollars in 2011: of these, over 60 percent were
exported to the European Union.