Visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday Germany and Poland should strengthen bilateral ties and solve difficult issues between the two countries step by step.

During her talks with Polish President Lech Kaczynski and Premier Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, Merkel promised to further develop bilateral ties and encourage more German companies to do business in Poland.

After his talks with Merkel, Marcinkiewicz expressed optimism about bilateral relations.

"I am convinced that we are opening a new chapter today," he said.

Merkel's trip to Poland, coming soon after she visited Paris, London and Brussels, was seen to reinforce her campaign pledge to improve ties with Poland, Germany's second largest neighbor and the biggest new European Union member.

(Xinhua News Agency December 3, 2005)