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 - 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.

Bangkok - Thailand's embattled Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat departed Thursday to attend the two-day Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Beijing where the soft-spoken leader can look forward to a busy visit.

Somchai and his entourage departed at 10:40 am (0340 GMT) to Beijing, which will host the seventh ASEM Summit on Friday and Saturday.

The diminutive Somchai, who has been Thailand's prime minister for only 35 days, will be a key player at ASEM, especially on the sidelines of the summit.

Beijing, Oct 22: China has reportedly hailed the opening up of bilateral trade between India and Pakistan through two road routes after 60 years, saying that the two countries would work harder to promote bilateral relations.

“China is a neighbour and friend of both Pakistan and India,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang during a press briefing in Beijing here last evening.

On the occasion, Gang also said that Beijing would continue to co-operate with Pakistan in its endeavour in the civilian nuclear energy field. “I have repeated on many occasions that we have sound co-operation and relations with Pakistan. We would like to continue this co-operation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.”

Taipei - A senior Chinese official was assaulted Tuesday by a group of pro-independence activists during a visit in the southern Taiwan city of Tainan, threatening to undermine high-level China-Taiwan talks planned for this month in Taipei.

Zhang Mingqing, vice chairman of the Association of Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), was mobbed by a group of activists led by city councilor Wang Ting-yu of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party during a sightseeing trip in Tainan.

ARATS is a state-funded mainland agency charged with dealing with the island in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

New Delhi, Oct 21 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has left on a five-day visit to Japan and China today.

Dr. Singh will be in Japan from October 21 to October 23 for a bilateral visit and will travel to China from October 23 to October 24 for the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit.

In Japan, Dr. Singh will meet his Japanese counterpart Taro Aso and hold talks on political, security and economic ties, including a free trade agreement, aiming to expand bilateral strategic relations.