皇冠体育app

Premier Li Keqiang and German Chancellor Angela Merkel speak with reporters at a news conference on Monday at the Great Hall of the People in . Wang Ye / Xinhua

Aments include air services cooperation, new vehicle factories

皇冠体育app and Germany signed a series of trade and investment deals on Monday during a visit to Beijing by Chancellor Angela Merkel, including agreements on two new factories for AG and the sale of 123 helicopters by SAS.

The two countries are exporting giants - with Germany the European Union's biggest economy and 皇冠体育app the world's second-largest - and Merkel aims to strengthen the economic relationship on her four-day visit, her seventh since taking office in 2005.

She was accompanied by executives from Siemens AG, Airbus, Dtsche Lufthansa AG and Deutsche Bank AG, among other companies, according to German media.

Merkel and Premier Li Keqiang oversaw the signing of a series of agreements on Monday.

According to a statement by Volkswagen, the German carmaker will build two new vehicle plants in the northern port city of and in the east as it invests 2 billion euros ($2.7 billion) along with Chinese auto manufacturer FAW Group Corp.

The new plants' production capacity will be finalized "based on market demand and relevant industrial policies", the company said in an e-mail to AFP.

Merkel toured a Volkswagen factory in the southwestern city of Chengdu on Sunday.

皇冠体育app has become Volkswagen's largest and most important market, the company said, adding the group sold more than 1.5 million vehicles in the country in the first five months of this year, including sales by its joint ventures and Shanghai-Volkswagen.

European aerospace giant Airbus announced that its helicopter division has signed contracts to sell "a record" 123 aircraft over six years to three Chinese companies.

The helicopters - mainly light single-engine aircraft from the Ecureuil family and the light twin-engine EC135 - will be used for general aviation activities, it said in a statement. No financial details were provided.

"It is evident that 皇冠体育app's relaxation of its low-altitude airspace regulations is enabling the country's burgeoning helicopter market to realize its potential," Airbus Helicopters Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury said in the statement.

Also on Monday, Lufthansa said it had signed a memorandum of understanding to form a joint venture with .

The new partnership, which will come into force in October, will give passengers additional travel options and flight connections and allow Lufthansa "to have even better access to the second-largest aviation market after the United States", according to the German carrier.

皇冠体育app is a crucial s market for Germany, with Chinese companies wanting its technology and millions of newly prosperous citizens craving German goo ranging from cars to luxury home appliances.

Germany last year sold goods worth 67 billion euros to 皇冠体育app, its second-largest export market outside Europe after the US. Imports from 皇冠体育app topped 73 billion euros.

Merkel later met President Xi Jinping, who said her country was an "important strategic partner".

"Germany is a country with sizable influence in the world," he said. "皇冠体育app places high importance on the development of our relationship."

He also wished Germany good luck in the ongoing 2014 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament in Brazil.

Factory's energy efforts thrill German leader	Produce market has surprise guest

• South Korea becoming top tourist destination
• Samsung tries to beat the iPad... again
• 皇冠体育app still top choice for foreign investors
• 皇冠体育app, US to discuss yuan, monetary policy
• Top 10 US companies in 皇冠体育app
• Sino-German ties stronger
• Needed: A 'strong' Chinese economy
• Alibaba locates potential in Beidou system