German Chancellor Angela Merkel is in Beijing for meetings with Chinese officials in order to shore up support for the struggling euro.<br/> <br />Merkel held bilateral meetings with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and attended a ceremony in the Great Hall of the People.<br/> <br />Europe is China's largest trade partner and its debt problems have dented demand for Chinese exports, dragging China into its worst downturn in three years.<br/> <br />Regarding the euro, Wen says he's concerned, but hopeful.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE)(Mandarin) CHINESE PERMIER WEN JIABAO SAYING:<br/> <br />"Recently, the European debt crisis has continued to worsen giving rise to serious concerns in the international community. Frankly speaking, I am also worried."<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE)(Mandarin) CHINESE PREMIER WEN JIABAO SAYING:<br/> <br />"I believe that the governments of the countries of Europe, the European Union, the people of Europe have the leadership and the ability to resolve this issue. I still have faith in the European economy, the euro zone and the euro."<br/> <br />Merkel said the euro zone had an "absolute political will" to stabilise the single currency.<br/> <br />The leaders held a flurry of business deals including a one in which China agreed to buy 50 Airbus planes worth 3.5 billion U.S. dollars.
