Berlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev are to meet in Berlin on March 31, a German government spokesman said Wednesday.

The talks will cover bilateral issues and ways to deal with the global economic and financial crisis, spokesman Thomas Steg said.

The meeting comes a day before the two leaders travel to London for the Group of 20 summit of the world's major economies on April 2.

In addition to the talks with Merkel, Medvedev will also meet German business leaders in the automobile, energy and steel sectors. (dpa)