BEIJING, Oct. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- China welcomes and congratulates Germany's Christian Democratic Union leader Angela Merkel, who is set to be the next German chancellor, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kong Quan said here Tuesday.

    Kong made the remarks in response to a question about Merkel's success as German chancellor and the announcement made on Oct. 10by the German Social Democratic Party and Merkel's Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) on holding talks on the formation of a grand coalition government.

    Kong expressed the hope that the talks will advance smoothly.

    China attaches great importance to developing relations with Germany and is willing to make a joint effort with Germany to further develop bilateral ties in an all-round and comprehensive way, the spokesman said.

    Merkel on Monday confirmed her victory in the September 18 general elections as the next German chancellor in a grand coalition government with the Social Democratic Party as a junior partner.

    Merkel, the first woman chancellor in German history, will startformal coalition talks with Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democratic Party next week.

    The new government is expected to be formally formed by late November.

    Fresh round of Sino-Japan strategic dialogue

   The third round of China-Japan Strategic Dialogue will be held in Beijing from October 14 to 17, Kong Quan announced today.

    Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo and Japanese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shotaro Yachi will head the delegations, he added.

    China and Japan already held two rounds of strategic dialogues this year respectively in Beijing in May and in Tokyo in June.

   Sino-US Joint Economic Commission

   The Chinese currency reform will be included in the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the Sino-US Joint Economic Commission (JEC), Kong said.

    The Sino-US economic and trade relations, financial cooperation,regional and world's macro-economy will be on the agenda as well, Kong said.

    US Treasury Secretary John Snow and US Federal Reserve ChairmanAlan Greenspan are scheduled to be present at the meeting of the G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, which will convene in China from Oct. 15 to 16, Kong added.

    He said that Snow and his Chinese counterpart Jin Renqing will co-chair the JEC meeting scheduled to kick off Sunday afternoon.

    It is Greenspan's first China visit since he took the post in 1987, Kong said, adding that the senior US Federal Reserve Chairman will know more about China's financial situation and currency reform during his stay in the country.

   Iranian FM to visit China

  Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will pay an official visit to China from October 13 to 14 at the invitation of Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Kong Quan said at the press conference.

    Relief material to Pakistan

    China will stay in close contact with Pakistan and adjust the dispatch of relief materials in accordance with Pakistan's requirement.

    "The first thing we are going to do is materialize the 6.2 million dollars of assistance and promptly send it to Pakistan according to the their requirements," said Kong.

    Kong said that the Chinese international searching rescue team has found three survivors in Pakistan and rescued one of them. The team has also treated more than 10 injured, and is now working day and night in the rescue work, he said.

    A 7.6-magnitude quake rocked the northern area of Pakistan on October 8. China swiftly offered emergency aid worth 6.2 million US dollars. A rescue team of 49 people from China arrived in Pakistan on October 9th following those from Britain, Turkey, Spain and the International Federation of the Red Cross.

    The earthquake also affected India and Afghanistan.

     Wu Yi's DPRK tour 

    Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said here Tuesday that during Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi's visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), her discussion with the DPRK side focused on further enhancing bilateral economic cooperation and trade.

    China and DPRK should work together to realize the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries on strengthening bilateral economic and trade relations under the current new situation, he told a regular press conference.

    Kong also noted the two countries should explore new ways for cooperation under the principles of mutual benefit and common progress.

    Kong described Wu's visit as "successful and satisfactory", saying that the two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on furthering bilateral relations.

    The relevant issues on six-party talks had also been touched upon during the visit, he said.

    Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi paid an official and goodwill visit to the DPRK from October 8 to 11 at the invitation of the DPRK government.

    During her visit, Wu met with the leaders of the DPRK, and attended celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Worker's Party of Korea.Enditem