Germany says it wishes to normalize relations with China, after Chancellor Merkel's meeting with the Dalai Lama strained relations.

Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he was hopeful that a meeting with his Chinese counterpart would bring about a normalization of relations with Beijing.

"I'm quite hopeful that we have clarified things so that we return to a normalization of relations,'' Steinmeier said in a morning interview on ARD television.

Steinmeier and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi are to meet on the sidelines of meeting of six key powers in Berlin to coordinate their positions on Iran's nuclear program.

Merkel received the Tibetan spiritual leader in late September, despite warnings from Beijing that the meeting could damage bilateral economic contacts.

MT/RA