German Chancellor Angela Merkel has started her two-day official visit to China. Premier Li Keqiang has held talks with Merkel at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Merkel’s visit comes with a strong focus to strengthen economic ties, and shore up German business interests in China. She’s accompanied by a business delegation that includes CEOs from big companies, and small and medium-sized enterprises.

The German Chancellor is expected to visit East China’s Anhui province on Oct 30 to get a glimpse of the latest development of China’s rural areas. This is Merkel’s eighth visit to China since she took office in 2005.