Merkel gets cooking lesson

German Chancellor Angela Merkel personally picked ingredients from a Chinese market and learned to cook kung pao chicken, a popular Chinese dish, during her visit to China in July. Kung pao chicken is a part of the traditional cuisine of southwestern Sichuan province. It is made with chicken, peanuts, scallions and chili peppers. The stir-fry dish can be found throughout China and has also become a staple of Westernized Chinese food.

Premier catches Champions

During his 2013 visit to Germany, Premier Li Keqiang followed the action in the UEFA Champions League final between German soccer clubs Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Li sent his heartfelt congratulations to Bayern for winning the event, one of the world's most prestigious soccer tournaments.

Banquet in the royal factory

Merkel will give Li a banquet in the Royal Porcelain Factory, also known as KMP, on Friday. The factory was founded and given its name by the legendary Prussian king Frederick the Great in 1763. KMP porcelain is regarded as a "white gold" masterpiece made in Berlin.

Helicopter trip to guesthouse

During Li's 2013 visit to Germany, a helicopter ride was arranged by his German counterpart to take him to a state guesthouse some distance from the nation's capital, Berlin. Gao Fei, a researcher at China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing, said such a rare gesture is a signal that Germany considers China important, and reflects the deep friendship between Li and Merkel.

China Daily