China visit

Chinese President Hu Jintao gave a red carpet welcome for German President Horst Koehler on his arrival in Beijing at the start of a five-day visit to the country.

Issues on the agenda included the need for global financial and trade reforms following the economic crisis, as well as human rights.

At the beginning of his five-day visit, Koehler was greeted on Monday with a military guard of honor and a reception in the Great Hall of the People.

Koehler said he hoped that the bond between Germany and China could be strengthened and that both countries could work together to fulfill their global responsibilities.

As China's head of state, Hu welcomed Koehler - who has visited the country on several previous occasions - as "an old friend of China."

China also supported the multi-billion-euro rescue package provided by the European Union and International Monetary Fund (IMF) to debt-ridden Greece, Hu said.

Dialogue on human rights

During the visit, an agreement was signed to hold annual social dialogue forums between the two countries on a range of issues, including human rights.

Hu also agreed to strengthen trade ties while increasing cooperation with Germany in the G20 group of leading economic and emerging nations, China Central Television said.

"At present, the basis of the world economic recovery is still not firm, all countries must continue to maintain economic stimulus measures and step up cooperation," the report quoted Hu as saying.

"China is willing to work with Germany to strengthen cooperation within the G20 framework and push forward further progress in the reform of the international financial system."

Working with other nations

Following the talks, Koehler outlined some of the themes discussed and said that Germany would work with China to push for reforms to the global finance system.

"Germany is willing to work with China to address the international financial crisis, to ensure that the global economy is open," he said.

The topic of human rights was raised, said Koehler, with particular emphasis placed on the importance of the rule of law in society. The president was lobbied at the weekend to raise the issue of justice by the wives of two jailed Chinese dissidents.

During the rest of the week, talks are scheduled with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and the governor of China's central bank Zhou Xiaochuan. Koehler, a former head of the IMF, could raise concerns that the Chinese currency is undervalued after China overtook Germany as the world's leading exporter.

The president will attend a "Germany Day" at the World Expo trade show in Shanghai on Wednesday, accompanied by his wife and a large delegation of business leaders.

Germany's pavilion at the show cost around 50 billion euros (62 billion dollars) to construct.

rc/dpa/epd/AFP
Editor: Martin Kuebler