BERLIN - Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel here on Friday to boost bilateral relations.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, Germany, Jan. 7, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

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The meeting was scheduled to last 45 minutes. Officials said the German side, which attached great importance to Li's visit, proposed to use simultaneous interpretation to enable the leaders to make full use of the meeting.

China-Germany relations have made considerable progress since the establishment of bilateral ties. The two sides have set up a series of dialogue mechanisms and established a strategic partnership with ever improving political mutual trust.

Li, who arrived here Thursday on a four-day visit, met with German President Christian Wulff on Friday morning. He is expected to meet with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle in the afternoon and to witness the signing of cooperation deals between the two countries.

Li came to Germany from Spain. He will also travel to Britain, the last leg of his three-nation Europe tour.