Beijing - Germany's support after the devastating Sichuan earthquake in March helped smooth German-Chinese relations after past upsets, Chinese President Hu Jintao said Friday.

Germany was the European country "which helped China most after this catastrophe," Hu told Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is in Beijing to participate in the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit on Friday and Saturday.

"This is a clear sign of friendship from the German government to the Chinese people," he added.

Merkel vowed closer cooperation with China in view of the global economic crisis. "We are ready to work even closer with China, especially in times of economic difficulties," the conservative chancellor said.

Beijing, Oct 24 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who is in Beijing to attend the seventh Asia Europe Summit (ASEM), had a bilateral meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Later in the day, Dr. Singh will also hold bilateral discussions with Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Bulgaria President Georgi Parvanov and China President Hu Jintao in the next two days.

The two-day summit will take place in the Great Hall of the People.

Washington, Oct 24 : A US Congressman, who was known for his criticism of the recently signed Indo-US nuclear deal, has said that China’s decision to supply two nuclear reactors to Pakistan was in violation of the international trade rules established by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)”.

He also said that China’s resolve would also damage the international non-proliferation regime.

According to the Daily Times, in a letter written to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice earlier this week, Markey warned that the Chinese decision will “further destabilise South Asia”.

Beijing, Oct 23 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Thursday arrived in Beijing to attend the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM-7) scheduled from Friday after his three-day visit to Japan.

On his arrival to Beijing, Dr. Singh said, “This is the first time that I am attending the Asian-European summit as a Prime Minister.”

“I sincerely hope that this meeting of minds between Europe and Asia will produce a solution to many global problems including the current global financial crisis,” Dr. Singh added.

Taipei- Taiwan said Thursday it has set November 3 as the date for it and China to begin a second round of high-level talks in Taipei, despite a recent attack on a Chinese envoy by pro-independence activists during his Taiwan visit.

"After a series of discussions between our two sides, the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) has strongly suggested that the meeting held on November 3" in Taipei, said Lai Shin-yuan, chairwoman of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC).

Beijing - Major Asian economies Japan, China and India must play a full role in overcoming the global financial crisis, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Thursday.

"We need to take the lessons of the crisis for reform of the global financial system," Barroso told reporters ahead of a summit of Asian and European leaders.

"We need Asia on board," he said, adding that the participation of China, India and Japan was vital for a global solution to the crisis.

"Apart from the financial dimensions of the crisis, there are major imbalances in global trade," Barroso said.