Angela Merkel meets with Chinese premier amid trade concerns

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, chats with China's Premier Li Keqiang during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Monday, June 13, 2016. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) (The Associated Press)

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Germany'a Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, chats China's Premier Li Keqiang duing a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on Monday, June 13, 2016. Merkel is on a three day visit to China from June 12-14. (Wang Zhao, Pool Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, listens to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Monday, June 13, 2016. Merkel is on a three-day visit to China. (Wang Zhao/Pool Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

BEIJING – German Chancellor Angela Merkel is meeting China's Premier Li Keqiang and other leaders in Beijing amid concerns over trade and the ability of German firms and foreign non-governmental organizations to function in China.

Merkel met Monday with Li and was scheduled to meet later in the day with President Xi Jinping. Her visit comes amid growing worries among German firms over obstacles they face in doing business with China.

Some in Germany also nurse doubts about Chinese purchases of German companies, including Chinese appliance maker Midea's $5.2 billion takeover offer for German industrial robot maker Kuka.

Merkel arrived in China Sunday on her ninth visit as chancellor, accompanied by a 20-member business delegation.

China was Germany's No. 4 trading partner last year.