The agreement is part of a slew¹ of（大量的） trade deals signed by German Chancellor² Angela Merkel at the start of a two-day visit to China.

 

An agreement on Airbus plane assembly in China was also signed, according to the Xinhua news agency.

 

Chinese Premier³ Wen Jiabao said on Thursday his country would continue to invest in the EU.

 

This is the first significant deal in China for Airbus, whose parent company is EADS, since a dispute between the country and the European Union over the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

 

Effective from 1 January this year, the ETS charges airlines for the carbon they emit.

 

China and other countries say the system is not fair, as it charges airlines for the full journey, not just over European airspace.

 

Following this in March, EADS chief executive Louis Gallois said Airbus was facing "retaliation⁵ measures" by China.

 

According to him, China had blocked firms from buying planes made by Airbus. Beijing did not comment on the allegation.

 

 

Ms Merkel is in China for the second time this year, as she tries to improve relations and drum up（招揽生意） business for European companies.

 

She is being accompanied by several ministers, as well as top German executives.

 

Bilateral⁶ trade between Germany and China totalled about $180bn dollars last year. That is nearly double what it was five years ago.

 

On Thursday, the two countries signed 10 further agreements, in the sectors⁷ of communication, energy, health and maritime⁸ co-operation, among others, Xinhua said.

点击收听单词发音