Premier Wen Jiabao welcomes visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Beijing (Photo: China Daily)

(VOVworld) German Chancellor Angela Merkel has kicked off a two-day visit to China to beef up bilateral comprehensive partnership and discuss the European debt crisis. Merkel on Thursday delivered a speech at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and held talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. In her speech, Merkel stressed that German will open its market to Chinese enterprises. She urged China to protect intellectual property rights and ensure market access for German businesses. She said that China could contribute to resolving the debt crisis in Europe , but did not give any specific proposal. Merkel will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday before flying to Guangzhou to attend a bilateral business forum with Premier Wen Jiabao.