Beijing  - German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble urged China Tuesday to be open in handling political conflicts such as the controversy over Tibet as well as security for the Olympic Games.

Schaeuble told reporters in Beijing after his talks with Vice President Zhang Dejiang that he tried to convey that "openness is the best way to not let conflicts escalate."

He welcomed Chian's willingness to meet with Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

Germany's interior minister also met with Sport Minister Liu Peng as well as with the Minister for Public Security Meng Jianzhu.

Schaeuble hopes to reach an agreement with Liu over cooperation in the area of sports medicine and science while he also shared Germany's experience of how it provided security for the 2006 World Cup, where a policy of openness and calmness were successful.

Germany's interior minister is on a three-day visit to China where he will also look to increase bilateral cooperation between the two countries. (dpa)