China signed a $17 billion deal with European multinational aerospace and defense corporation Airbus Group SE, on Thursday, October 29, for the purchase of 130 jets, the China Daily reported.
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Merkel, who was speaking during a two-day visit to China, said it was essential sea trade routes remain open despite the dispute.
The agreement is a major step forward for Airbus Helicopters in China – a country which is becoming the world’s largest market for helicopters and in which the European rotorcraft manufacturer keeps increasing its footprint.
Merkel and Keqiang also attended the signing of agreements between Nokia Corp. and phone carrier China Mobile Ltd. and between Volkswagen AG and a Chinese bank, ICBC Ltd.
Observers question whether the increased investment comes at the cost of softening stances against human rights abuses by the Asian giant, which has used political access as a cudgel to punish countries that criticise its behaviour.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said today there must be a political solution to the crisis in Syria, repeating a stance China has adopted throughout, following talks in Beijing with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. No details were given on the activists she met.
The 30 A330s firm up options taken in June, when China announced an order for 45 of the wide-body aircraft plus options for 30 more.
The United Kingdom has stolen a march on both Germany and France after President Xi Jinping’s glittering visit to Britain, during which he stayed at Buckingham Palace, signed trade deals worth €57 billion and hailed a “Golden Era” of cooperation. She later met the Chinese head of state. It marks the first time Li has invited a foreign leader to his home province.
Merkel is to meet with Seehofer and Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, leader of the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), to discuss the refugee crisis on Sunday.
Li said he and Merkel agreed to set up a demonstration base for China-Germany educational cooperation at Hefei University, in the hope of cultivating more talent through vocational education to boost Chinese entrepreneurship.
Officially Germany expects 800,000 refugees to enter the country this year, although the number is likely to top 1 million. “We are happy that China is willing to do that”.
The chancellor parlayed ever-closer ties with one of Germany’s biggest trade partners to win the deal on the black-and-white animals, native to southern China.
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Conservative officials believe it is likely Seehofer will come away from this weekend’s meetings with Merkel with a deal to introduce so-called “transit zones” at border crossings to process refugees’ asylum requests.
