Status: 04.11.2022 07:50 a.m
At their meeting in Beijing, Scholz and China’s head of state Xi will focus on cooperation. But the chancellor did not want to omit points of criticism – several of which are on the potential agenda for talks.
During his short visit to China, Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with the head of state of the People’s Republic, Xi Jinping. Scholz emphasized that he did not want to leave out critical questions “where we are pursuing different perspectives”.
However, the basic tenor at the start of the joint consultations was aimed at rapprochement and cooperation. Scholz emphasized that it was good that there would be a “very intensive exchange” with the Chinese President. This exchange should serve to build trust. The Chancellor’s list of key issues includes climate change, the growing over-indebtedness of poorer countries and the worsening international hunger crisis.
Xi made a similar statement: The meeting with Scholz should “deepen trust and cooperation”. However, China’s head of state indirectly ruled out a debate on critical issues. Both sides should observe the principles of mutual respect, strive to find common ground and ignore differences. Under these circumstances, relationships could develop in an unbiased and stable direction.
Focus on the Ukraine war
According to Scholz, the focus is also on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The SPD politician emphasized that his visit came at a time that was “characterized by great tensions, particularly as a result of the Russian war against Ukraine.”
According to Chinese state media, Xi also spoke of “times of change and turmoil”, which made closer cooperation between Germany and China all the more important.
Lack of distancing from Russia
China has been massively criticized by the West for its attitude towards Russia and with regard to its war of aggression against Ukraine. Because so far the People’s Republic has not distanced itself from Russia or condemned the war.
But other aspects are also weighing on Western relations with China, such as its military threat to Taiwan or the human rights situation. Even before his departure, Scholz had announced in the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” that he wanted to address these criticisms when meeting with Xi. “It is clear that if China changes, the way we deal with China must also change,” said the Chancellor.
Skepticism about closer cooperation
But also domestically, the German-Chinese relationship has increasingly come into focus in Germany in recent weeks. The background is the planned participation of the Chinese state shipping company Cosco in one of the four container terminals in the Port of Hamburg. The Chancellery has backed the Chinese entry, which is viewed critically by other parties – including the partners in the traffic light coalition.
A majority of the German population is also against the planned deal, like the ARD Germany trend revealed. Almost half of the citizens even advocate that Germany should reduce its economic cooperation with China.
Scholz, on the other hand, announced in Beijing that he wanted to deepen “practical cooperation” with China. The Chancellor is accompanied by around a dozen top managers, including the CEOs of Volkswagen, BMW, BASF, Bayer and Deutsche Bank. During his visit, Scholz is to meet Chinese company representatives.
Timing of the trip in review
Scholz is the first Western head of government to meet with Xi after his re-election as party leader almost two weeks ago. The timing of the trip so soon after the party convention where Xi continued to expand his power is disputed.
Chinese dissidents and the World Uyghur Congress even called for it to be cancelled. The Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, on the other hand, protected Scholz: The trip was “at least not a bad idea,” he told the dpa news agency. In today’s world, it would be unrealistic to sever relationships to achieve political ends.
Because of the continued strict corona restrictions in China, Scholz’s visit lasted only eleven hours, making it shorter than any other chancellor’s trip to the most populous country in the world before. Scholz has been the first head of government in the group of large industrialized nations (G7) to visit China again since the pandemic began almost three years ago.
Short visit: Olaf Scholz has arrived in China
Benjamin Eyssel, ARD Beijing, November 4, 2022 5:48 a.m