GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in China yesterday for her seventh visit since 2005, with economic ties topping the agenda and a high-powered business delegation in tow.

    Merkel touched down early yesterday in the southwestern city of Chengdu, where she met local officials, visited a market and toured a factory operated by German car manufacturer Volkswagen.

    Merkel was due to arrive later yesterday in Beijing, where she will wrap up the first day of the three-day visit by meeting Premier Li Keqiang for dinner at the Diaoyutai State Guest House.

    For the EU’s biggest economy, China is a crucial mass market. Chinese companies want its technology and millions of newly prosperous citizens crave German goods ranging from Audi sedans to luxury home appliances.

    Germany last year sold goods worth 67 billion euros (US$91 billion) to China, its No. 2 export market outside Europe after the United States. Imports from the Asian powerhouse, meanwhile, topped 73 billion euros.

    In Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, Merkel attended an urban forum with the provincial Party chief Wang Dongming, went shopping at Shenxianshu Market, enjoyed typical Sichuan dishes, and visited the FAW-Volkswagen factory, where she was hosted by VW CEO Martin Winterkorn and FAW group CEO Xu Jianyi.

    Merkel is expected to hold a joint press conference today with Li and will also attend the China-Germany Economic and Trade Commission before meeting President Xi Jinping.

    She will address students at Beijing’s renowned Tsinghua University before departing for Berlin tomorrow.(SD-Agencies)