‘Intensive exchange’ between Xi Jinping and Olaf Scholz in Beijing Tonga volcano eruption is highest ash cloud ever recorded on Earth

Chinese head of state and party leader Xi Jinping wants to expand cooperation with Germany. During his first meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Beijing on Friday, he expressed the hope that the visit would strengthen mutual trust and cooperation.

The two sat opposite each other at two long tables. Scholz and his delegation can only move in a hermetically sealed “bubble”. At eleven, the visit is shorter than any trip to China.

Scholz is the first Western head of government to meet Xi Jinping after his re-election as party leader two weeks ago. The visit will take place under strict Corona restrictions as China follows a zero-Covid strategy. Xi Jinping greeted the chancellor without a mask, but not with a handshake.

Scholz also criticizes

In his opening statement to Xi Jinping, the chancellor emphasized the war in Ukraine. “We come together at a time of great tension. I especially want to highlight the Russian war against Ukraine, which poses many problems for our rules-based world order.” Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China has supported Putin and portrayed the US and NATO as the main culprits in the conflict.

Scholz also mentioned hunger, climate change and the debt of poor countries as important themes. It is good to come together now for a “very intensive exchange”.

Criticism: propaganda

The visit is more controversial than almost any other chancellor’s trip to China. There was a lot of criticism at the timebecause Scholz pays his respects to the party leader so soon after the party congress, which plays into the hands of propaganda.

Support came from an unusual source: the most famous contemporary Chinese artist, Ai Weiwei, protected Scholz. Against the background of advance demands on the chancellor not to travel, Ai Weiwei told the German news agency: “In any case, it’s not a bad idea.” In today’s world it would be unrealistic to break relationships to achieve political goals. That never worked. He did call on the chancellor to stand up for European values ​​in Beijing.

(yam/sda/dpa)