Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes to meet with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang later this week.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz embarked on a high-profile visit to China on Sunday in an effort to strengthen economic relations between the two nations, amid growing tensions between Western countries and Beijing over trade and political issues.
The сhancellor, accompanied by a large delegation of ministers and top executives from companies including Siemens, BMW, and Mercedes, arrived in the southwestern city of Chongqing, an industrial hub with a population of over 30 million.
Scholz went to China at the invitation of Premier Li Qiang – though at the airport, his delegation was greeted by the vice mayor of Chongqing, Zhang Guozhi, and China’s ambassador to Germany, Wu Ken.
Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz arrived in Chongqing on Sunday, kicking off his three-day visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang. #OlafScholz @CCTV_Plus pic.twitter.com/013m8ZeZH4
— Zhang Meifang (@CGMeifangZhang) April 14, 2024
The German leader is scheduled to visit the financial center of Shanghai on Monday, before traveling to the capital on Tuesday to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. The three-day trip, the second and longest since he took office in 2021, is reportedly aimed at reinforcing business ties with the world’s second biggest economy, despite US calls for “decoupling.” He is also expected to discuss differences over the Russia-Ukraine conflict and tensions over Taiwan.
“China remains a really important economic partner,” Scholz told journalists on Friday, pledging to try and ensure fair competition for German companies operating in China.
The visit comes despite moves by Germany’s Western partners to curb trade with Beijing, and the US probing the national security risks presumably posed by Chinese technology. China has denied any wrongdoing, dismissing all allegations as politically motivated and unfair competition practices.
I would say, China is biding its time. To buy german industries. . Without russian gas, the country will be soon totally broke. Sholz knows it.
Mutti had tried to prevent China to buy itself into german industries. It is now to no avail. Thanks to our ” friend and ally” the US vulture, Europe will come in a not so far future under influence of China and Russia . Might not be a bad bargain after all
Can’t wait for the next election.
AfD will win in a landslide.
China views Germany as an insect, which it is compared to China. They will come begging and be lucky to get scraps, from China’s table. Its their own fault, too.