Berlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel telephoned Italy's premier-designate, Silvio Berlusconi, on Tuesday to congratulate him on his general-election success, her office said in Berlin.

Merkel invited Berlusconi, 71, to pay a visit to Germany.

She told him she looked forward warmly to working together with him, having worked well with him in the past.

"Especially with regard to European cooperation, Italy is an important partner of Germany," she said. (dpa)