Beijing - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday urged greater transparency and firmer controls over financial markets as part a solution to the global financial turmoil.

Merkel made a four-point proposal to Asian and European leaders discussing the financial crisis in Beijing, according to an advance copy of her speech.

She listed greater transparency in financial markets as the highest priority for supporting a global recovery.

Second on the list of proposals to 45 leaders at the biannual Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) was the need for a new structure of incentives.

Beijing - The prime ministers of China and Japan on Friday pledged to cooperate in maintaining stability in the face of the global financial crisis.

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso held talks amid a series of bilateral meetings before a summit of Asian and European leaders in Beijing on Friday and Saturday.

Wen told Aso that the two nations should have "more policy dialogue and coordination to maintain stability in the financial markets," the Chinese foreign ministry reported.

Cooperation between China and Japan in the face of the international financial crisis was "vital for the stability of Asia," the ministry quoted Wen as saying.

Taipei - Taiwan's pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party is to stage an anti-China protest on Saturday, to be followed by a series of demonstrations when Chinese top envoy Chen Yunlin visits the island next month, the party leader said Friday.

"We will start a series of events, including a large-scale march in Taipei on Saturday, to make our voices known to Chen Yunlin during his Taiwan visit that we do not want military threats, tainted food, and suppression of our sovereignty from China," said DPP chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen.

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, Oct 24 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who is in Beijing to attend the seventh Asia Europe Summit (ASEM), had a bilateral meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Later in the day, Dr. Singh will also hold bilateral discussions with Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Bulgaria President Georgi Parvanov and China President Hu Jintao in the next two days.

The two-day summit will take place in the Great Hall of the People.

Washington, Oct 24 : A US Congressman, who was known for his criticism of the recently signed Indo-US nuclear deal, has said that China’s decision to supply two nuclear reactors to Pakistan was in violation of the international trade rules established by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)”.

He also said that China’s resolve would also damage the international non-proliferation regime.

According to the Daily Times, in a letter written to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice earlier this week, Markey warned that the Chinese decision will “further destabilise South Asia”.