Xi Jinping moves to cement China-Germany ties in first phone call with Olaf Scholz
- After wasting no time in congratulating the new German leader, Chinese president stresses partnership in initial conversation
- Xi also urged the chancellor to ‘play an active role’ in stabilising Beijing’s relationship with the European Union
Hailing Chinese relations with Germany as the “bellwether” in navigating China’s overall cooperation with Europe, Xi also on Tuesday urged Berlin to “play an active role in stabilising the relationship between China and the European Union”, according to state news agency Xinhua.
“Both sides should adhere to the positioning of a comprehensive strategic partnership … to ensure the healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations at all times,” he added.
Xi reminded Scholz that China had been Germany’s largest trading partner in each of the past five years, and the two countries significantly benefited from each other’s economic development. He added the two sides could work together in emerging areas, including new energy and the green and digital economies.
“We should insist on resolving regional hotspots through dialogue, follow and … resolutely oppose all forms of hegemonic practices and Cold War mentality,” Xi said.
Germany’s incoming foreign minister vows tough China stance
Scholz also told Xi his country would seek to promote EU-China relations “in a constructive manner” and also expressed his hope of “an early implementation” of the EU-China investment deal.
The investment deal has been effectively killed by the European Parliament because of Beijing’s sanctioning of officials which plunged bilateral ties to arguably their lowest point in three decades.
On Monday, UN foreign policy chief Josep Borrell joined foreign ministers from the Group of Seven major economies to issue a statement about their “grave concern” over the outcome of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council elections.
China’s EU ambassador calls for better communication in farewell message
Earlier, the South China Morning Post reported that the annual China-EU summit, initially planned to be held by the end of this year, was likely to be delayed until January because of disagreements over human rights, economics and trade.
Meanwhile, tensions are growing between China and Lithuania after the self-ruled island of Taiwan – which Beijing regards as part of its territory – opened a de facto embassy in Vilnius.
Beijing downgraded its diplomatic ties with Lithuania and last week Vilnius said it had closed its embassy in Beijing and pulled all its diplomats out of China, adding pressure to the EU’s consideration of whether to take a stronger position on China.
EU to renew sanctions on Chinese officials for alleged Xinjiang abuses
Beijing has been increasingly anxious about a possible shift in Berlin from former chancellor Angela Merkel’s pro-engagement policy towards Beijing, which could bring Europe’s largest economy closer to the US, now locked in a strategic rivalry with China.
In a reflection of Beijing’s eagerness to establish contact with the new German leader, Xi sent a congratulatory message to Scholz less than 10 minutes after his position was confirmed.