Merkel woos Li for Chinese economic tonic

Berlin

CHINESE Premier Li Keqiang is visiting Germany at the right time as Chancellor Angela Merkel seeks to boost exports outside Europe while the euro-area economy flounders.

On his second trip to the German capital since taking office in March 2013, Mr Li will begin a two-day tour of the country with joint-Cabinet talks at Ms Merkel's chancellery, followed by the signing of as many as 20 bilateral agreements and a press conference.

The Chinese premier touches down in a Germany economy teetering on the brink of recession as exports to China and Russia sag. Exports plunged 5.8 per cent in August, the most in five and a half years. The government is reviewing its growth forecasts after four economic institutes that advise Ms Merkel said on Thursday that gross domestic product will probably only expand 1.2 per cen…