Freshly sworn-in German Chancellor Angela Merkel has landed in Paris at a visit aimed to mend her country's ties with France. She said that strong ties with Paris are vital for both countries and for the European Union as a whole. Speaking alongside French President Jacques Chirac in Paris, she made foreign policy the focus of her first full day in office. Merkel stopped short of backing Turkey's bid to join the EU, but said a "close strategic connection" was needed. She will next travel to Brussels and is due to visit London on Thursday.