Berlin  - Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping met Monday with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, one day before both are to inaugurate this year's Frankfurt Book Fair, with China as guest of honour.

Their "intensive, 90-minute discussion in a particularly friendly atmosphere" covered Iran's nuclear programme, the upcoming climate change conference in Copenhagen and the state of China's economy, Merkel aides said in a statement.

Hong Kong - Two of China's rising political stars were Thursday named among the the world's 100 most influential people in a prestigious annual list to be published by Time magazine.

Vice Premier Wang Qishan and Vice President Xi Jinping are among a diverse list including US president Barack Obama, Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal and disgraced financier Bernie Madoff.

Beijing, June 6 : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is on a four-day visit to China to enhance strategic and diplomatic ties, on Friday met with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping here.

Pranab Mukherjee met Xi Jinping, who is tipped to be President Hu Jintao's successor, after his scheduled meet with the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was cancelled.

The talks between the two leaders were expected to include the long-standing border dispute between India and China.