By Michael Fischer and Jörg Blank, dpa
BERLIN – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he appealed to the Chinese government to exert its influence on Russia in the war against Ukraine during Chinese-German government consultations in Berlin on Tuesday.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has “a very special role,” Scholz said during a joint appearance with China’s Premier Li Qiang at the Chancellery.
Scholz stressed that it is important that Beijing continues not to supply weapons “to the aggressor Russia” and recalled his visit to China in November, during which it was made clear to Chinese President Xi Jinping that there must be no threat of, and “certainly no use” of, nuclear weapons.
“This remains unchanged and I am grateful for this common clear position.”
Scholz stressed Ukraine’s right to territorial integrity and sovereignty. “Peaceful coexistence worldwide is based on this rules-based international order, not on the power of the strongest.”
No country should regard other countries as their backyard and try to shift borders by force, he said. “Imperialism is never the solution.”
During the appearance before the press, the Chinese premier did not address the chancellor’s appeal to influence China’s “strategic partner” Russia. At the request of the Chinese side, no questions from journalists were allowed.
To date, China has not condemned the invasion and instead backs Russian President Vladimir Putin and criticizes the US and NATO. Li instead reiterated Chinese interest in expanding cooperation with Germany. Both countries should bring relations “to an ever higher level,” he said.
He referred to a “complex” international situation and stalling growth in the global economy. “If we strengthen cooperation in science, industry and business, we will contribute to the stability of the world economy,” Li said. Both countries could play a “stabilizing role.”
He reported that 10 joint agreements had been reached during his visit to Germany.
Regardless of the debate about German dependence on China, Scholz stressed that his government is committed to further developing economic cooperation with the world’s second largest economy.
“We have no interest in an economic decoupling from China,” he said, and called for an improvement in access to the Chinese market as well as fair competitive conditions for Germany.
The chancellor also stressed the importance of human rights in the manufacturing process and the supply chain. Consumers around the world were paying ever closer attention to how products were made, he said. “Dignified production conditions and related improvements in the human rights situation are in both our interests.”
The two countries want to cooperate more closely on climate change and environmental protection. As major emitters of carbon dioxide (CO2), they have a special responsibility in the fight against climate change, Scholz said.
The aim is to make industrial processes more climate-friendly, to accelerate the energy transition and to promote the switch to climate-friendly transport.
Scholz announced that a German-Chinese environmental forum was planned for November. On Monday, he said, a declaration of intent on transport options powered by electricity and hydrogen had also been signed to continue cooperation in this field.
Scholz said the government consultations were meaningful. “Direct dialogue, face-to-face talks, a real exchange – all this is even more important than usual in these extraordinary times full of global challenges and crises.”
