German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a recent interview that the structural reforms that China is promoting are very important and very courageous, and Germany is willing to participate in achieving the improvements, according to information from the official website of the German Federal Government on June 11.

At the invitation of Premier Li Keqiang, Merkel will pay an official visit to China from June 12 to 14.

During the visit Merkel will visit Shenyang, capital city of Northeast China’s Liaoning province. Merkel said that China’s northeastern region is undergoing a structural reform and Germany experienced a similar change. North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) was very dependent on the steel industry and she could understand the same problems China’s northeastern region is facing, Merkel said in the interview. She expressed interest in having a look at China’s action plans regarding this reform to see whether Germany can provide suggestions or support.

During her stay, Merkel and Premier Li will co-chair the fourth round of China-Germany inter-governmental consultation. Merkel said that the inter-governmental consultation is very crucial, through which departments from both sides carried out projects and successfully expanded the base for cooperation. Germany and China check the progress of governmental affairs, which is conducive to further facilitating cooperation, through the annual consultation, Merkel added.