German Chancellor wants to discuss with Mr. Xi to help achieve peace in Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is on a three-day visit to China, culminating in a meeting between the heads of government of the Western European country and the top leader of the East Asian country on April 16.

In comments made at the start of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Mr Scholz warned that the ongoing war in Ukraine risks damaging “the entire international order”.

During talks at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on April 16, the German Chancellor also said he hoped Berlin and Beijing could discuss ways to contribute more to peace in Ukraine.

While China claims that it is a neutral party in the conflict.

Mr. Scholz also told Mr. Xi on April 16 that “Russia's war in Ukraine has a very significant negative impact on security in Europe,” according to a recording released by the German Chancellor's Office and reported by AFP.

World - German Chancellor wants: Berlin and Beijing discuss to help peace in Ukraine — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, April 16, 2024. Photo: AFP/NST

The visit is also the German chancellor's first to China since Berlin launched its "de-risking" strategy last year to prevent Germany from becoming too dependent on the world's second-largest economy.

Commenting on bilateral relations, Mr. Xi said that cooperation between China and Germany is not a risk but a guarantee for a stable relationship and opportunities for the future.

“We must comprehensively view and develop bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective,” Xi told Scholz. “(Germany and China) should be on guard against rising protectionism, and view the issue of production capacity objectively and dialectically from a market-oriented and global perspective.”

Mr Xi's comments came as the European Union (EU), of which Germany is a leading member, complained about Chinese goods flooding the bloc's markets.

China’s push into green manufacturing such as electric vehicles and solar panels has sparked trade disputes with Europe and the US, where those industries also receive government support. But with 5,000 German companies operating in the Chinese market, Germany could lose more than many of its European partners if a trade war breaks out and Beijing retaliates against the EU .

Minh Duc (According to Digital Journal, Reuters, NY Times)

Source