Scholz and Xi continue to rely on cooperation

The Chancellor is currently in China and has called for closer cooperation between the two countries. Because Germany wants to continue to rely on the People’s Republic on economic issues – despite existing differences.

At his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned of damage to the “entire international order” in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The war and “Russia’s rearmament” violated “a principle of the United Nations Charter, the principle of the inviolability of state borders,” said Scholz at the beginning of his meeting with Xi.

Scholz also referred to the importance of German-Chinese cooperation in the fight against climate change. The Chancellor also spoke of the danger of nuclear escalation. “It is clear, we both made it clear at our last meetings here in Beijing, that the use of nuclear weapons should not even be threatened.” Scholz added: “I would like to discuss with you today how we can contribute more to a just peace in Ukraine.”

Also the fight against climate change is an issue

In the run-up to Scholz’s visit, the USA had accused China of massively supporting the Russian arms sector. “Without the contribution of the People’s Republic of China, Russia would have difficulty sustaining its war effort,” a senior U.S. official said. According to US information, China is Russia’s most important supplier of machine tools and microelectronics needed to produce missiles, drones, tanks and aircraft.

Before his talks with Xi, Scholz emphasized the importance of cooperation with China in the fight against climate change. “Extreme weather events such as storms, floods, droughts and cold affect the whole world,” said Scholz. “Only together will we be able to find solutions, stop climate change and manage the green energy transition in a socially just manner.”

Xi advocates closer cooperation

Xi, in turn, praised the relationship with Germany. Both countries have great potential for equal cooperation, but should also be careful with regard to protectionism and look objectively at production capacities. Xi further said cooperation would not be a “risk” but a guarantee of stable ties and an opportunity for the future. “We need to further develop bilateral relations from a strategic perspective,” Xi continued.

The president also emphasized that China is not involved in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. China is not a party or a participant in the Ukraine crisis, it said in a statement after the meeting with Scholz in Beijing. Instead, China has always “promoted the peace talks in its own way,” Xi said.

Beijing supports an international peace conference “in due course,” but Russia and Ukraine would have to accept it, said the Chinese. Moscow has already canceled the planned conference in Switzerland. The Chinese response to an invitation from the Alpine state is still pending.

Xi also laid out four vague principles to avoid escalation in the war. Peace and stability must be given more priority instead of pursuing “our own selfish interests,” it said. In addition, more effort should be made to ease the situation “instead of adding fuel to the fire.” Thirdly, conditions are needed for the restoration of peace. Most recently, he called for greater efforts to reduce negative impacts on the global economy for the benefit of the stability of global industrial and supply chains, it said.

Meet with Prime Minister Li Qiang

Before the meeting with Xi, Scholz had already announced discussions on the online service The meeting between Scholz and Xi took place on the last day of Scholz’s three-day trip to China, accompanied by several federal ministers and business representatives.

A meeting with Prime Minister Li Qiang is also planned for Tuesday. Scholz wants to raise competition issues in addition to Ukraine at the talks in Beijing. Another important topic is likely to be the situation in the Middle East after the Iranian attack on Israel.