国内英语新闻:German Chancellor visits northwest Xi'an

XI'AN, July 17 (Xinhua) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel continued Saturday her visit in Xi'an, capital of China' s northwestern Shaanxi Province.

During the visit, Merkel and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with heads of prestigious German and Chinese firms, and visited China-German joint venture Siemens Signaling Company Ltd.

Merkel also held a meeting with the acting Governor of the Shaanxi Province Zhao Zhengyong.

Zhao said the Sino-German cooperation taking place in Shaanxi had enjoyed great achievements during recent years, as there had been about 60 Sino-German joint ventures operating in the province.

Merkel said more and more German businessman were looking forward to getting involved in China's "West Development" campaign, and she believed the bilateral cooperation will be pushed forward in the future.

The acting governor gave Merkel a horse sculpture as a birthday gift, for Merkel's 56th birthday falls on this Saturday.

Merkel was born in the year of the horse, according to the Chinese traditional calendar.

During her stay in Xi'an, Angela Merkel also visited a cultural theme park, and the renowned Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses in the mausoleum of Qinshihuang, the first emperor of an united China.

Merkel will leave Xi'an on Sunday Morning and wrap up her four-day official visit to China.