Merkel to seek China help with debt crisis during visit

German Chancellor Angela Merkel hopes to win China's help in heading off Europe's debt crisis during a two-day visit to the world's second biggest economy this week, dpa quoted officials in Berlin as saying Tuesday. Germany wants China to use its clout at the International Monetary Fund to help solve the crisis. The IMF has contributed money to bailout Portugal, Ireland and Greece. Beijing's help in bringing the crisis to an end includes Chinese investors possibly buying up government bonds of eurozone nations at the centre of the crisis. This includes the bonds of nations such as Spin and Italy, which officials in Germany said were attractive to Chinese investors because of their current high interest rates. Merkel is to head up a top-level delegation based on seven cabinet members - including the finance, foreign and economics ministers. The first such high-level consultation between China and Europe's biggest economy took place when Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao led a delegation to Berlin in June 2011. Broader economic and political questions are also likely to be on the agenda during Merkel's visit to China, which starts on Thursday. The talks between the leaders of the world's two top exporting nations come amid signs that their economies are slowing. Berlin officials said the thorny question of greater foreign exchange rate flexibility in China might also be raised during the chancellor's visit. Merkel, who flies to China on Wednesday, also wants to speak openly with the Chinese leadership about the ongoing conflict in Syria. She hopes to press Beijing to forgo its blockade in the United Nations' Security Council resolutions aimed at ending the bloodshed. Germany wants an agreement on humanitarian aid to Syria, which would include China providing financial assistance to Syrian refugees. European aircraft maker Airbus is also confident of securing further new orders in China, according to German official sources.The chancellor and Wen are to visit an Airbus factory in the Chinese  city of Tianjin on Friday. During her visit, Merkel is also scheduled to met Wens' likely successor, Li Kequiang as well Xi Jinping, who is expected to emerge as China's new state and party chief in October.