German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was received on Friday by Chinese head of state and party leader Xi Jinping. The talks in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing focused mainly on bilateral relations, the geopolitical unrest caused by the war in Ukraine and tensions over Taiwan. Scholz is the first Western head of government to meet Xi after his re-election as party leader. The visit is taking place under strict corona measures, as China still follows a strict zero-Covid strategy.
So Xi welcomed Scholz without a mask — but there was no handshake. The two sat opposite each other at two long tables. Scholz and his delegation move in a hermetically sealed “bubble”, making the 11-hour visit shorter than a German chancellor’s trip to China. Since the start of the pandemic almost three years ago, the German chancellor has been the first head of government from the group of major industrialized countries (G7) to visit China again.
Scholz: “Time marked by great tension”
In the beginning, the SPD politician said that “of course” it would also be about the questions “where we pursue different perspectives”. That is “the purpose of a good exchange”. “We come together at a time of great tension. In particular, I want to highlight the Russian war against Ukraine, which poses many problems for our rules-based world order.” He also cited hunger, climate change and the debt burden of poor countries as key issues.
Xi: “Times of Change and Chaos”
Xi said he wants to expand cooperation with Germany. May the visit strengthen trust, both sides should observe the principles of mutual respect and seeking common ground. The international situation is “complex and changeable”. China and Germany should work together as influential countries and contribute more to peace and development “in times of change and chaos”.
Disputed timing
The German chancellor is joined by a dozen top executives, including the CEOs of Volkswagen, BMW, BASF, Bayer and Deutsche Bank. Scholz will also meet local business representatives in Beijing. The timing of the trip so soon after the party congress where Xi Jinping further expanded his power is disputed. Chinese dissidents and the World Uyghur Congress had called for its cancellation.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
