Beijing, 30.08.12: Chancellor Angela Merkel was attending the second Sino-German government consultations in the Chinese capital.
The Chancellor, seven ministers and a large business delegation arrived in the morning at Beijing Airport.
Prime Minister Wen Jiabao welcomed the Chancellor in the Great Hall of the People. It was the Chancellor's sixth visit to China since taking office.
After the national anthems ...
... the two heads of government inspect the guard of honour.
This was followed by a first meeting on a small scale. One important item on the agenda of talks between the two heads of government was the situation in the euro zone.
This was followed by consultations with the ministers. Items on the agenda included the fortieth anniversary of diplomatic relations and free trade.
On the first day of the visit numerous agreements and declarations in a wide variety of fields were signed.
Reporting on the government consultations, Angela Merkel stressed how important it is, "to put in place consistent structures so as to put cooperation on a reliable calculable footing".
More political talks followed in the afternoon, including a meeting with President Hu Jintao ...
... and the Deputy Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China, Li Keqiang (at left Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle).
To wind up the first day, the Chancellor met representatives of China's financial sector for dinner.
31.08.12: The second day began with a visit to the Forbidden City, where the Chancellor was greeted enthusiastically by visitors.
Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao visited the former Imperial Palace.
Children bid farewell to Angela Merkel and Wen Jiabao at Beijing's South Railway Station.
Together they took a high-speed train to Tianjin where they visited an Airbus plant.
A walk along Tianjin's Food Street ...
... and a chance to taste some of the delicacies on offer
Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao are welcomed by the staff of the Airbus assembly plant in Tianjin.
The Chancellor speaks at the celebration to mark the delivery of the 100th Airbus A320l.