BEIJING (AP) – In a much-scrutinised meeting yesterday with visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine and warned against the conflict going nuclear.
The German leader is in Beijing for a one-day visit, which reflects the importance of Germany’s trade ties with China, the world’s second-largest economy, particularly in the auto and manufacturing sectors.
Scholz, who is travelling with several top German business leaders, received a formal welcome from Xi, who was recently reappointed head of the ruling Communist Party, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Xi noted that Scholz’s visit comes as the two countries mark more than 50 years of diplomatic relations dating back to when they relaunched economic exchanges.
“At present, the international situation is complex and changeable,” Xi was quoted as saying by state broadcaster CCTV.
“As influential powers, China and Germany should work together in times of change and chaos to make more contributions to world peace and development.”
On Ukraine, Xi “pointed out that China supports Germany and the European Union (EU) in playing an important role in promoting peace talks and the building of a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework”, CCTV reported.
The international community should “call on all parties concerned to exercise rationality and restraint, conduct direct contacts as soon as possible, and create conditions for the resumption of negotiations (and) jointly oppose the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons”, Xi said.
