German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made an appearance in China on Sunday to discuss the increasingly strained economic relationship between the parties and the differences over Russia’s war of Ukraine.
Scholz’s first stop was Chongqing, where he and his committee of ministers and business leaders were scheduled to tour a largely German-funded company and other locations in the great city, which serves as the foundation of China’s auto and other industries.
Scholz will also make a three-day browse to Shanghai, the economic hub, before meeting with Premier Li Qiang and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing.
German automobile manufacturers like BMW and Volkswagen rely heavily on the Foreign industry, but Beijing’s support for Russia causes tensions with the West.
China’s investment and production of goods ranging from cars to substances have benefited Germany’s market, but those ties have deteriorated as a result of tighter regulations and increased competition from Chinese companies. A sharp decline in international funding has also been attributed to political meddling.
European businesses have asserted that there are harsh industry restrictions in China, and the federal has pushed for a “de-risking” policy to lessen its reliance on Chinese manufacturers and suppliers.
Despite that, China remained Germany’s top trading partner for the eighth straight year in 2023, with 254.1 billion euros ($ 271 billion ) in goods and services exchanged between the sides, slightly more than what Germany traded with the U. S. but a 15.5 % contraction from the year before. German exports to China totaled 97.3 billion euros ($ 104 billion ), according to Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, although figures have varied depending on exchange rate fluctuations and rounding of numbers.
Special: Ukrainian MP Says European Companies Bending to ‘ Beijing’s Will’ are Destroying the EU Single Markethttps: //t. co/nBkMd1TcGa
— Breitbart London ( @BreitbartLondon ) January 22, 2022
Scholz was seen leaving in a motorcade after taking off from his aircraft in Chonqing, but the loving delegation received no comments.
Due to his arrival, Scholz stated on social media that he had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday about the “massive” Soviet air strikes on civilian energy infrastructure and that Berlin would” remain unbreakably by Ukraine’s side.”
China has refused to condemn Russian hostility. It has maintained business relations with President Vladimir Putin’s administration, aligned its foreign legislation with Moscow, and praised its autocratic one-party program as a better alternative in opposition to the U.S.-led liberal democratic order.
Scholz took a boat cruise on the legendary Yangtze River, one of two formidable waterways that partially surround the city and perched on cliffs, after visiting a European company that produces hydrogen motors.
After visiting Shanghai on Monday, Scholz may travel to Beijing and join with Xi on Tuesday at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Li will then give him military honors at the Great Hall of the People, the royal legislature’s seats in the center of the country’s capital. Before he departs late on Wednesday evening, more appointments and sessions may follow.
Scholz has made two trips to China since taking office as president in later 2021. His past visit was in November of that year, and it basically consisted of a one-day trip due to the stringent COVID regulations in place at the time.
His first visit comes after the German government made its China method public last month, which Beijing criticized. In June, Premier Li and a group of top leaders made a trip to Berlin.
In 2020, as relations between Brussels and the communist dictator in Beijing continue to grow, the Chinese state becomes the EU’s leading trading companion. https ://t.co/RzgCixukoq
— Breitbart London ( @BreitbartLondon ) February 17, 2021