国内英语新闻:China, Germany to sign deals worth billions of dollars

BERLIN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- China and Germany will ink 8.7 billion U.S. dollars worth of business deals during Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Germany, Chinese Ambassador to Germany Wu Hongbo said here on Friday.

Wu said at a press conference that Li was accompanied by some 120 Chinese business leaders on his current visit. The two sides are expected to sign 11 agreements and commercial contracts worth some 8.7 billion dollars, covering such fields as automobile purchase, financial cooperation, energy and machinery.

Earlier on Friday, Li met with German President Christian Wulff and then held talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Li told the German leaders that China is a long-term and responsible player in European financial markets. China has increased its holdings of, and will continue to buy Spanish government bonds.

Li said China viewed Europe as an important partner and would like to see a prosperous Europe.

Li, who started his four-day official visit to Germany on Thursday, is due to meet with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle in the afternoon and attend a signing ceremony of the business deals between the two countries.