She was called "the leader of the free world" as authoritarian populists were on the march in Europe and the United States but Angela Merkel is wrapping up a historic 16 years in power with an uncertain legacy at home and abroad.

In office so long she was dubbed Germany's "eternal chancellor", Merkel, 67, leaves with her popularity so resilient she would likely have won a record fifth term had she wanted to extend her mandate.

Instead, Merkel will pass the baton as the first German chancellor to step down entirely by choice, with a whole generation of voters never knowing another person at the top.

Her supporters say she provided steady, pragmatic leadership through countless global crises as a moderate and unifying figure.

<img alt="Turkey&amp;#39;s actions in east Mediterranean regrettable: Merkel | Reuters.com" src="https://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&amp;d=20201016&amp;t=2&amp;i=1537746051&amp;w=780&amp;fh=&amp;fw=&amp;ll=&amp;pl=&amp;sq=&amp;r=LYNXMPEG9F18L" />

Yet critics argue a muddle-through style of leadership, pegged to the broadest possible consensus, lacked the bold vision to prepare Europe and its top economy for the coming decades.

What is certain is that she leaves behind a fractured political landscape, with the question of who will govern Germany next wide open just weeks before the September 26 election.

Assuming she stays on to hand over power, she will tie or exceed Helmut Kohl's longevity record for a post-war leader, depending on how long the upcoming coalition negotiations drag on.

'Do the right thing'

The brainy, unflappable Merkel has served for many in recent years as a welcome counter-balance to the big, brash men of global politics, from Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin.

<img alt="G-7 Summit: Angela Merkel and Donald Trump in Viral Photo | Time" src="https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/donald-trump-angela-merkel-g7-summit.jpg" />

A Pew Research Center poll late last year showed large majorities in most Western countries having "confidence in Merkel to do the right thing regarding world affairs".

However the last days of her tenure have also been marred by what Merkel called the "bitter, dramatic and terrible" return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan -- a debacle in which she shares the blame as German troops pull out.

A trained quantum chemist raised behind the Iron Curtain, Merkel has long been in sync with her change-averse electorate as a guarantor of stability.

Her major policy shifts have reflected the wishes of large German majorities -- among them phasing out nuclear power after the 2011 Fukushima disaster -- and attracted a broad new coalition of women and urban voters to the once arch-conservative CDU.

'Austerity queen'

Before the coronavirus pandemic, her boldest move -- keeping open German borders in 2015 to more than one million asylum seekers -- seemed set to determine her legacy.

But while many Germans rallied to Merkel's "We can do it" cry, the move also emboldened an anti-migrant party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), ushering a far-right bloc into parliament for the first time since World War II.

At the same time, hardline leaders such as Hungary's Viktor Orban accused her of "moral imperialism" with her welcoming stance.

Six years on, she lamented this month, the European Union appears no closer to a unified policy on migration.

<img alt="German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, May 19, 2021. REUTERS/Michele Tantussi/Pool" src="https://cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/MDEGE6AWTJOMBHWNYGTSGYRKBY.jpg" />

The woman once known as the "climate chancellor" for pushing renewables also faces a mass movement of young activists arguing Merkel has failed to face up to the climate emergency, with Germany not even meeting its own emissions-reduction commitments.

She became Europe's go-to leader during the eurozone crisis when Berlin championed swingeing spending cuts in return for international bailout loans for debt-mired countries.

Angry protesters dubbed her Europe's "austerity queen" and caricatured her in Nazi garb while defenders credit her with holding the currency union together.

More recently, despite admitted missteps in the coronavirus pandemic including a sluggish vaccine roll-out, Germany's infection levels and death toll have remained lower than those of many European partners relative to its population.

Kohl's 'girl' to 'Mummy'

Merkel, the EU's and G7's most senior leader, started as a contemporary of George W. Bush, Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac when she became Germany's youngest and first female chancellor in 2005.

She was born Angela Dorothea Kasner on July 17, 1954 in the port city of Hamburg, the daughter of a Lutheran clergyman and a school teacher.

Her father moved the family to a small-town parish in the communist East at a time when tens of thousands were headed the other way.

<img alt="German Chancellor Angela Merkel holds her annual summer news conference in Berlin, Germany, July 22, 2021. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/Pool" src="https://cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/4ZNIPWPKUZKDJBYK4XRY447SIQ.jpg" />

She excelled in mathematics and Russian, which has helped her maintain the dialogue with the other veteran on the world stage, Russia's Putin, who was a KGB officer in Dresden when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989.

Merkel kept the name of her first husband, whom she married in 1977 and divorced five years later.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Merkel, who was working in a chemistry lab, joined a pro-democracy group that would merge with Kohl's Christian Democrats.

The Protestant from the east whom Kohl nicknamed his "girl" would later be elected leader of a party until then dominated by western Catholic patriarchs.

As she rose to power, party rivals sneeringly called her "Mutti" (Mummy) behind her back but she deftly -- some said ruthlessly -- eliminated potential challengers.

Although her name has come up on wish lists for key EU or United Nations posts, Merkel has said she will leave politics altogether.

Asked on her final trip to Washington in June what she looked forward to most, she replied "not having to constantly make decisions".

She was called "the leader of the free world" as authoritarian populists were on the march in Europe and the United States but Angela Merkel is wrapping up a historic 16 years in power with an uncertain legacy at home and abroad.

She was called "the leader of the free world" as authoritarian populists were on the march in Europe and the United States but Angela Merkel is wrapping up a historic 16 years in power with an uncertain legacy at home and abroad. In office so long she was dubbed Germany's "eternal chancellor", Merkel, 67, leaves with her popularity so resilient she would likely have won a record fifth term had she wanted to extend her mandate. Instead, Merkel will pass the baton as the first German chancellor to step down entirely by choice, with a whole generation of voters never knowing another person at the top. Her supporters say she provided steady, pragmatic leadership through countless global crises as a moderate and unifying figure. Yet critics argue a muddle-through style of leadership, pegged to the broadest possible consensus, lacked the bold vision to prepare Europe and its top economy for the coming decades. What is certain is that she leaves behind a fractured political landscape, with the question of who will govern Germany next wide open just weeks before the September 26 election. Assuming she stays on to hand over power, she will tie or exceed Helmut Kohl's longevity record for a post-war leader, depending on how long the upcoming coalition negotiations drag on. 'Do the right thing' The brainy, unflappable Merkel has served for many in recent years as a welcome counter-balance to the big, brash men of global politics, from Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin. A Pew Research Center poll late last year showed large majorities in most Western countries having "confidence in Merkel to do the right thing regarding world affairs". However the last days of her tenure have also been marred by what Merkel called the "bitter, dramatic and terrible" return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan -- a debacle in which she shares the blame as German troops pull out. A trained quantum chemist raised behind the Iron Curtain, Merkel has long been in sync with her change-averse electorate as a guarantor of stability. Her major policy shifts have reflected the wishes of large German majorities -- among them phasing out nuclear power after the 2011 Fukushima disaster -- and attracted a broad new coalition of women and urban voters to the once arch-conservative CDU. 'Austerity queen' Before the coronavirus pandemic, her boldest move -- keeping open German borders in 2015 to more than one million asylum seekers -- seemed set to determine her legacy. But while many Germans rallied to Merkel's "We can do it" cry, the move also emboldened an anti-migrant party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), ushering a far-right bloc into parliament for the first time since World War II. At the same time, hardline leaders such as Hungary's Viktor Orban accused her of "moral imperialism" with her welcoming stance. Six years on, she lamented this month, the European Union appears no closer to a unified policy on migration. The woman once known as the "climate chancellor" for pushing renewables also faces a mass movement of young activists arguing Merkel has failed to face up to the climate emergency, with Germany not even meeting its own emissions-reduction commitments. She became Europe's go-to leader during the eurozone crisis when Berlin championed swingeing spending cuts in return for international bailout loans for debt-mired countries. Angry protesters dubbed her Europe's "austerity queen" and caricatured her in Nazi garb while defenders credit her with holding the currency union together. More recently, despite admitted missteps in the coronavirus pandemic including a sluggish vaccine roll-out, Germany's infection levels and death toll have remained lower than those of many European partners relative to its population. Kohl's 'girl' to 'Mummy' Merkel, the EU's and G7's most senior leader, started as a contemporary of George W. Bush, Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac when she became Germany's youngest and first female chancellor in 2005. She was born Angela Dorothea Kasner on July 17, 1954 in the port city of Hamburg, the daughter of a Lutheran clergyman and a school teacher. Her father moved the family to a small-town parish in the communist East at a time when tens of thousands were headed the other way. She excelled in mathematics and Russian, which has helped her maintain the dialogue with the other veteran on the world stage, Russia's Putin, who was a KGB officer in Dresden when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. Merkel kept the name of her first husband, whom she married in 1977 and divorced five years later. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Merkel, who was working in a chemistry lab, joined a pro-democracy group that would merge with Kohl's Christian Democrats. The Protestant from the east whom Kohl nicknamed his "girl" would later be elected leader of a party until then dominated by western Catholic patriarchs. As she rose to power, party rivals sneeringly called her "Mutti" (Mummy) behind her back but she deftly -- some said ruthlessly -- eliminated potential challengers. Although her name has come up on wish lists for key EU or United Nations posts, Merkel has said she will leave politics altogether. Asked on her final trip to Washington in June what she looked forward to most, she replied "not having to constantly make decisions".

Merkel, Germany's 'eternal' chancellor, prepares to leave the stage

German Chancellor<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/merkels-coalition-in-crisis-talks-after-european-union-vote-debacle-221923/amp">&nbsp;Angela&nbsp;Merkel's</a> favoured successor Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer sparked outrage on social media on Tuesday with an apparent call for limits to free speech around elections.&nbsp;

The CDU chief's comment came after her party and its centre-left coalition partner SPD suffered their worst scores in Sunday's European election -- a result partly blamed on the fact that some 70 YouTube stars had urged Germans not to vote for either party.

Addressing the issue on Monday night, Kramp-Karrenbauer said if 70 newspaper editors had called to boycott parties ahead of an election, that would be classed "clearly as propaganda".

"The question is... what are rules from the analogue realm and which rules should apply to the digital realm? "I'll tackle this discussion quite aggressively," said Kramp-Karrenbauer, or AKK as she is dubbed in Germany.

Her comments immediately sparked a storm on social media with #AKKRuecktritt (AKKresign), #annegate, #Zensur (censorship) and #Meinungsfreiheit (freedom of opinion) making up the top four topics trending on Twitter in Germany.

Many users pointed to article five in the German constitution guaranteeing freedom of opinion, speech and writing.The German Federation of Journalists also hit out against AKK's call, calling it "not just nonsense but also a violation of the constitution".

SPD general secretary Lars Klingbeil also warned that any attempt to limit freedom of expression "will definitely not be possible with my party". "This is absurd. Nobody would get upset if an actor or an athlete made an election recommendation", said Klingbeil.

Kramp-Karrenbauer later tried to downplay her comments, saying it was "ridiculous to insinuate that I want to regulate expressions of opinion".

Freedom of opinion is a precious value in a democracy. "But what we have to talk about are rules that apply during elections," she wrote on Twitter. AKK, 56, replaced&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;as head of the CDU last December and is expected to seek the top job when&nbsp;Merkel's term ends in 2021.

The 70 Youtubers' call to vote against CDU, SPD and far-right AfD was a follow-up to an hour-long video rant from another online star Rezo, who blamed the centre-right-led coalition for failing to tackle poverty and climate change.

Put online on May 18, the clip had been viewed 12.6 million times by Tuesday, tumbling&nbsp;Merkel's party into the crisis-fighting mode.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's favoured successor Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer sparked outrage on social media on Tuesday with an apparent call for limits to free speech around elections.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's favoured successor Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer sparked outrage on social media on Tuesday with an apparent call for limits to free speech around elections. The CDU chief's comment came after her party and its centre-left coalition partner SPD suffered their worst scores in Sunday's European election -- a result partly blamed on the fact that some 70 YouTube stars had urged Germans not to vote for either party. Addressing the issue on Monday night, Kramp-Karrenbauer said if 70 newspaper editors had called to boycott parties ahead of an election, that would be classed "clearly as propaganda". "The question is... what are rules from the analogue realm and which rules should apply to the digital realm? "I'll tackle this discussion quite aggressively," said Kramp-Karrenbauer, or AKK as she is dubbed in Germany. Her comments immediately sparked a storm on social media with #AKKRuecktritt (AKKresign), #annegate, #Zensur (censorship) and #Meinungsfreiheit (freedom of opinion) making up the top four topics trending on Twitter in Germany. Many users pointed to article five in the German constitution guaranteeing freedom of opinion, speech and writing.The German Federation of Journalists also hit out against AKK's call, calling it "not just nonsense but also a violation of the constitution". SPD general secretary Lars Klingbeil also warned that any attempt to limit freedom of expression "will definitely not be possible with my party". "This is absurd. Nobody would get upset if an actor or an athlete made an election recommendation", said Klingbeil. Kramp-Karrenbauer later tried to downplay her comments, saying it was "ridiculous to insinuate that I want to regulate expressions of opinion". Freedom of opinion is a precious value in a democracy. "But what we have to talk about are rules that apply during elections," she wrote on Twitter. AKK, 56, replaced Merkel as head of the CDU last December and is expected to seek the top job when Merkel's term ends in 2021. The 70 Youtubers' call to vote against CDU, SPD and far-right AfD was a follow-up to an hour-long video rant from another online star Rezo, who blamed the centre-right-led coalition for failing to tackle poverty and climate change. Put online on May 18, the clip had been viewed 12.6 million times by Tuesday, tumbling Merkel's party into the crisis-fighting mode.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's successor sparks freedom of speech uproar

China&nbsp;said on Thursday it would "open its door wider" to German businesses, helping to visit Chancellor Angela&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;defend free commerce and counterbalance trade&nbsp;threats from US President Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;that are testing transatlantic ties.

Germany and&nbsp;China, two exporting nations that run large&nbsp;trade&nbsp;surpluses with the United States, have found themselves in&nbsp;Trump's firing line and are scrambling to preserve the rules-based multilateral order on which their prosperity rests.

Merkel&nbsp;faces a delicate balancing act on the&nbsp;China&nbsp;trip, her 11th since becoming chancellor in 2005, as she seeks to show Chinese-German solidarity over free&nbsp;trade&nbsp;and the Iran nuclear deal without harming German ties with long-term ally Washington.

In the latest US trade&nbsp;move that has alarmed Beijing and Berlin alike, the&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;administration announced on Wednesday a national security investigation on into car and truck imports that could potentially lead to tariffs.

The announcement hurt share prices of both European and Asian carmakers.&nbsp;China&nbsp;vowed to protect its interests.

European countries are also concerned that their exporters could be hurt if&nbsp;China&nbsp;instructs importers to buy more US goods to ease&nbsp;trade&nbsp;disputes with the&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;administration.&nbsp;China has already signalled to state companies to buy more U.S. oil and soybeans,&nbsp;trade&nbsp;sources told Reuters.

Premier Li Keqiang, in a joint media appearance with&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;at Beijing's Great Hall of the People, said&nbsp;China&nbsp;and Germany both upheld global free&nbsp;trade and stressed the huge potential for cooperation between them.

Though the two countries had problems, they could be overcome, Li said. "China's door is open. You can say it will open even wider," Li said, standing next to&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;and stressing "friendly relations" with Germany.

Trump's "America First"&nbsp;trade&nbsp;policy, his administration's professed disdain for the World&nbsp;TradeOrganisation, as well as his withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, have pushed&nbsp;China&nbsp;and Germany into closer alignment, German officials say.

However,&nbsp;Merkel's government also shares many of the&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;administration's concerns about Chinese business practices, including what many Western countries have complained are state-backed efforts to pressure foreign companies into giving up&nbsp;trade&nbsp;secrets.

Li said&nbsp;China&nbsp;would protect the interests of German firms investing in&nbsp;China&nbsp;and adjust its rules if needed.

"If they come across any problems during their investment, especially when it comes to legal protections, I can clearly tell you that&nbsp;China&nbsp;is striding forward to being a country with rule of law," Li said.

German companies have complained for years about barriers to the Chinese market and the theft of intellectual property.

Merkel&nbsp;welcomed&nbsp;China's recent announcements that it would further open its financial sector to foreign participation and reduce Chinese joint venture requirements in sectors such as automobiles, a mainstay of German investment in the world's second-largest economy.

But German industry said it was now up to&nbsp;China&nbsp;to deliver on its promises of greater openness.

"China&nbsp;must rigorously reduce the asymmetries in market access," said Hubert Lienhard, head of the Asia Pacific Committee of German Industry (APA).

Germany and&nbsp;China&nbsp;should work on a "multilateral global system",&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;said, stressing her attachment to the rules-based global framework that&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;is challenging.

Trump&nbsp;has also pushed Europe to work more closely with&nbsp;China&nbsp;by pulling out of a 2015 deal between world powers and Iran under which international sanctions against Tehran were lifted in return for Iran accepting curbs on its nuclear programme.

European countries, Russia and&nbsp;China, which were parties to the deal, are searching for a way to salvage it by continuing to offer economic benefits to Iran in return for its compliance.

Merkel, who personally lobbied&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;not to pull out of the pact but was rebuffed, said Germany and&nbsp;China&nbsp;were "united in the view that we do not want to put this agreement in doubt".

European companies could reduce their business with Iran if they risk US sanctions for trading there,&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;said, adding with a nod to&nbsp;China: "Of course, this creates the possibility for others to then get more into Iran."

The announcement hurt share prices of both European and Asian carmakers. China vowed to protect its interests

China said on Thursday it would "open its door wider" to German businesses, helping to visit Chancellor Angela Merkel defend free commerce and counterbalance trade threats from US President Donald Trump that are testing transatlantic ties. Germany and China, two exporting nations that run large trade surpluses with the United States, have found themselves in Trump's firing line and are scrambling to preserve the rules-based multilateral order on which their prosperity rests. Merkel faces a delicate balancing act on the China trip, her 11th since becoming chancellor in 2005, as she seeks to show Chinese-German solidarity over free trade and the Iran nuclear deal without harming German ties with long-term ally Washington. In the latest US trade move that has alarmed Beijing and Berlin alike, the Trump administration announced on Wednesday a national security investigation on into car and truck imports that could potentially lead to tariffs. The announcement hurt share prices of both European and Asian carmakers. China vowed to protect its interests. European countries are also concerned that their exporters could be hurt if China instructs importers to buy more US goods to ease trade disputes with the Trump administration. China has already signalled to state companies to buy more U.S. oil and soybeans, trade sources told Reuters. Premier Li Keqiang, in a joint media appearance with Merkel at Beijing's Great Hall of the People, said China and Germany both upheld global free trade and stressed the huge potential for cooperation between them. Though the two countries had problems, they could be overcome, Li said. "China's door is open. You can say it will open even wider," Li said, standing next to Merkel and stressing "friendly relations" with Germany. Trump's "America First" trade policy, his administration's professed disdain for the World TradeOrganisation, as well as his withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, have pushed China and Germany into closer alignment, German officials say. However, Merkel's government also shares many of the Trump administration's concerns about Chinese business practices, including what many Western countries have complained are state-backed efforts to pressure foreign companies into giving up trade secrets. Li said China would protect the interests of German firms investing in China and adjust its rules if needed. "If they come across any problems during their investment, especially when it comes to legal protections, I can clearly tell you that China is striding forward to being a country with rule of law," Li said. German companies have complained for years about barriers to the Chinese market and the theft of intellectual property. Merkel welcomed China's recent announcements that it would further open its financial sector to foreign participation and reduce Chinese joint venture requirements in sectors such as automobiles, a mainstay of German investment in the world's second-largest economy. But German industry said it was now up to China to deliver on its promises of greater openness. "China must rigorously reduce the asymmetries in market access," said Hubert Lienhard, head of the Asia Pacific Committee of German Industry (APA). Germany and China should work on a "multilateral global system", Merkel said, stressing her attachment to the rules-based global framework that Trump is challenging. Trump has also pushed Europe to work more closely with China by pulling out of a 2015 deal between world powers and Iran under which international sanctions against Tehran were lifted in return for Iran accepting curbs on its nuclear programme. European countries, Russia and China, which were parties to the deal, are searching for a way to salvage it by continuing to offer economic benefits to Iran in return for its compliance. Merkel, who personally lobbied Trump not to pull out of the pact but was rebuffed, said Germany and China were "united in the view that we do not want to put this agreement in doubt". European companies could reduce their business with Iran if they risk US sanctions for trading there, Merkel said, adding with a nod to China: "Of course, this creates the possibility for others to then get more into Iran."

Merkel woos China as Trump poses new trade challenge

China&nbspsaid on Thursday it would "open its door wider" to German businesses, helping to visit Chancellor Angela&nbspMerkel&nbspdefend free commerce and counterbalance trade&nbspthreats from U.S. President Donald&nbspTrump&nbspthat are testing transatlantic ties.

Germany and&nbspChina, two exporting nations that run large&nbsptrade&nbspsurpluses with the United States, have found themselves in&nbspTrump's firing line and are scrambling to preserve the rules-based multilateral order on which their prosperity rests.

Merkel&nbspfaces a delicate balancing act on the&nbspChina&nbsptrip, her 11th since becoming chancellor in 2005, as she seeks to show Chinese-German solidarity over free&nbsptrade&nbspand the Iran nuclear deal without harming German ties with long-term ally Washington.

In the latest U.S.&nbsptrade&nbspmove that has alarmed Beijing and Berlin alike, the&nbspTrump&nbspadministration announced on Wednesday a national security investigation on into car and truck imports that could potentially lead to tariffs.

The announcement hurt share prices of both European and Asian carmakers.&nbspChina&nbspvowed to protect its interests.

European countries are also concerned that their exporters could be hurt if&nbspChina&nbspinstructs importers to buy more U.S. goods to ease&nbsptrade&nbspdisputes with the&nbspTrump&nbspadministration.&nbspChina has already signalled to state companies to buy more U.S. oil and soybeans,&nbsptrade&nbspsources told Reuters.

Premier Li Keqiang, in a joint media appearance with&nbspMerkel&nbspat Beijing's Great Hall of the People, said&nbspChina&nbspand Germany both upheld global free&nbsptrade and stressed the huge potential for cooperation between them.

Though the two countries had problems, they could be overcome, Li said. "China's door is open. You can say it will open even wider," Li said, standing next to&nbspMerkel&nbspand stressing "friendly relations" with Germany.

Trump's "America First"&nbsptrade&nbsppolicy, his administration's professed disdain for the World&nbspTradeOrganisation, as well as his withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, have pushed&nbspChina&nbspand Germany into closer alignment, German officials say.

However,&nbspMerkel's government also shares many of the&nbspTrump&nbspadministration's concerns about Chinese business practices, including what many Western countries have complained are state-backed efforts to pressure foreign companies into giving up&nbsptrade&nbspsecrets.

Li said&nbspChina&nbspwould protect the interests of German firms investing in&nbspChina&nbspand adjust its rules if needed.

"If they come across any problems during their investment, especially when it comes to legal protections, I can clearly tell you that&nbspChina&nbspis striding forward to being a country with rule of law," Li said.

German companies have complained for years about barriers to the Chinese market and the theft of intellectual property.

Merkel&nbspwelcomed&nbspChina's recent announcements that it would further open its financial sector to foreign participation and reduce Chinese joint venture requirements in sectors such as automobiles, a mainstay of German investment in the world's second-largest economy.

But German industry said it was now up to&nbspChina&nbspto deliver on its promises of greater openness.

"China&nbspmust rigorously reduce the asymmetries in market access," said Hubert Lienhard, head of the Asia Pacific Committee of German Industry (APA).

Germany and&nbspChina&nbspshould work on a "multilateral global system",&nbspMerkel&nbspsaid, stressing her attachment to the rules-based global framework that&nbspTrump&nbspis challenging.

Trump&nbsphas also pushed Europe to work more closely with&nbspChina&nbspby pulling out of a 2015 deal between world powers and Iran under which international sanctions against Tehran were lifted in return for Iran accepting curbs on its nuclear programme.

European countries, Russia and&nbspChina, which were parties to the deal, are searching for a way to salvage it by continuing to offer economic benefits to Iran in return for its compliance.

Merkel, who personally lobbied&nbspTrump&nbspnot to pull out of the pact but was rebuffed, said Germany and&nbspChina&nbspwere "united in the view that we do not want to put this agreement in doubt".

European companies could reduce their business with Iran if they risk U.S. sanctions for trading there,&nbspMerkel&nbspsaid, adding with a nod to&nbspChina: "Of course, this creates the possibility for others to then get more into Iran."

China&nbspsaid on Thursday it would "open its door wider" to German businesses, helping to visit Chancellor Angela&nbspMerkel&nbspdefend free commerce and counterbalance trade&nbspthreats from U.S. President Donald&nbspTrump&nbspthat are testing transatlantic ties. Germany and&nbspChina, two exporting nations that run large&nbsptrade&nbspsurpluses with the United States, have found themselves in&nbspTrump's firing line and are scrambling to preserve the rules-based multilateral order on which their prosperity rests. Merkel&nbspfaces a delicate balancing act on the&nbspChina&nbsptrip, her 11th since becoming chancellor in 2005, as she seeks to show Chinese-German solidarity over free&nbsptrade&nbspand the Iran nuclear deal without harming German ties with long-term ally Washington. In the latest U.S.&nbsptrade&nbspmove that has alarmed Beijing and Berlin alike, the&nbspTrump&nbspadministration announced on Wednesday a national security investigation on into car and truck imports that could potentially lead to tariffs. The announcement hurt share prices of both European and Asian carmakers.&nbspChina&nbspvowed to protect its interests. European countries are also concerned that their exporters could be hurt if&nbspChina&nbspinstructs importers to buy more U.S. goods to ease&nbsptrade&nbspdisputes with the&nbspTrump&nbspadministration.&nbspChina has already signalled to state companies to buy more U.S. oil and soybeans,&nbsptrade&nbspsources told Reuters. Premier Li Keqiang, in a joint media appearance with&nbspMerkel&nbspat Beijing's Great Hall of the People, said&nbspChina&nbspand Germany both upheld global free&nbsptrade and stressed the huge potential for cooperation between them. Though the two countries had problems, they could be overcome, Li said. "China's door is open. You can say it will open even wider," Li said, standing next to&nbspMerkel&nbspand stressing "friendly relations" with Germany. Trump's "America First"&nbsptrade&nbsppolicy, his administration's professed disdain for the World&nbspTradeOrganisation, as well as his withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, have pushed&nbspChina&nbspand Germany into closer alignment, German officials say. However,&nbspMerkel's government also shares many of the&nbspTrump&nbspadministration's concerns about Chinese business practices, including what many Western countries have complained are state-backed efforts to pressure foreign companies into giving up&nbsptrade&nbspsecrets. Li said&nbspChina&nbspwould protect the interests of German firms investing in&nbspChina&nbspand adjust its rules if needed. "If they come across any problems during their investment, especially when it comes to legal protections, I can clearly tell you that&nbspChina&nbspis striding forward to being a country with rule of law," Li said. German companies have complained for years about barriers to the Chinese market and the theft of intellectual property. Merkel&nbspwelcomed&nbspChina's recent announcements that it would further open its financial sector to foreign participation and reduce Chinese joint venture requirements in sectors such as automobiles, a mainstay of German investment in the world's second-largest economy. But German industry said it was now up to&nbspChina&nbspto deliver on its promises of greater openness. "China&nbspmust rigorously reduce the asymmetries in market access," said Hubert Lienhard, head of the Asia Pacific Committee of German Industry (APA). Germany and&nbspChina&nbspshould work on a "multilateral global system",&nbspMerkel&nbspsaid, stressing her attachment to the rules-based global framework that&nbspTrump&nbspis challenging. Trump&nbsphas also pushed Europe to work more closely with&nbspChina&nbspby pulling out of a 2015 deal between world powers and Iran under which international sanctions against Tehran were lifted in return for Iran accepting curbs on its nuclear programme. European countries, Russia and&nbspChina, which were parties to the deal, are searching for a way to salvage it by continuing to offer economic benefits to Iran in return for its compliance. Merkel, who personally lobbied&nbspTrump&nbspnot to pull out of the pact but was rebuffed, said Germany and&nbspChina&nbspwere "united in the view that we do not want to put this agreement in doubt". European companies could reduce their business with Iran if they risk U.S. sanctions for trading there,&nbspMerkel&nbspsaid, adding with a nod to&nbspChina: "Of course, this creates the possibility for others to then get more into Iran."

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Merkel, Germany's 'eternal' chancellor, prepares to leave the stage

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's successor sparks freedom of speech uproar

Merkel woos China as Trump poses new trade challenge

Merkel woos China as Trump poses new trade challenge