Merkel to visit China, Russia

GERMANY: German Chancellor Angela Merkel will next week embark on a trip to China, Russia and Kazakhstan, her spokesman said Friday.

Merkel will be in Russia July 14 and 15, during which time she will hold “political talks” with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, spokesman Christoph Steegmans told a regular briefing.

She will then travel to China for meetings with Premier Wen Jiabao and President Hu Jintao, he added.

Finally, she will head to Kazakhstan where she will July 18 hold talks with President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Prime Minister Karim Masimov in Astana.

Berlin, Sunday, AFP