German Chancellor and leader of German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Angela Merkel (C), leader of German Christian Social Union (CSU) Horst Seehofer (L) and leader of German Social Democratic Party (SPD) Martin Schulz pose for photos after a joint press conference at the headquarters of SPD, in Berlin, Germany, on Jan. 12, 2018. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the Social Democrats (SPD) on Friday achieved a breakthrough in their exploratory talks aimed at forming a new coalition government, local media reported. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)