BEIJING - China would welcome a visit from German Chancellor Angela Merkel this year, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Hong Lei said at a regular news briefing that frequent high-level visits between China and Germany in recent years have boosted bilateral ties and helped the China-Europe relationship.

China attaches importance to ties with Germany, Hong said, adding that both sides are communicating on Merkel's plan to visit China.

Hong expressed his belief that high-level visits will consolidate various cooperation between the two countries and play an important role in China-Europe ties.