BERLIN, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel will start to visit China and Japan on Aug. 26, the German government press office said Thursday.

    The itinerary for the week-long trip has yet to be made known, it said.

    Merkel has said she expected to talk with the leaders of the two Asian countries about issues including climate change, nuclear security and the role of emerging economies like China on the global stage.

    Japan takes over from Germany the rotating presidency of the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations on Jan. 1, 2008.

    On a second trip to Asia in October, Merkel will visit India, Malaysia and Singapore, according to a report by German news agency DPA.