German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attend a welcome ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China May 24, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee

BEIJING (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday China and Germany are standing by the existing nuclear deal with Iran after the United States left the 2015 accord earlier this month.

Merkel made the comment during a joint news briefing with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People during a two-day visit to China.