Xi should influence Putin
Scholz calls for China’s commitment to peace in Ukraine
April 16, 2024, 5:03 p.m
China and Russia have close relationship. According to Chancellor Scholz, the People’s Republic can influence Putin to end the war in Ukraine. He made this clear during a meeting with the Chinese president. He also refers to the UN Charter.
During his visit to Beijing, Chancellor Olaf Scholz asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to urge Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Scholz explained after his meeting with Xi that he had also agreed to close coordination with Xi with regard to a planned Ukraine peace conference. Other important topics of his visit were trade relations and cooperation in the fight against climate change.
“China’s word has weight in Russia,” Scholz explained on the online service According to the Chancellor, Xi agreed to support a Ukraine peace conference to be held in Switzerland in mid-June. “China and Germany intend to coordinate intensively and positively on promoting the hosting of a high-level conference in Switzerland and future international peace conferences,” explained Scholz.
At the meeting in Beijing’s Diaoyutai state guesthouse, Scholz warned of damage to the “entire international order” from the Ukraine war. The Russian war of aggression and the “armament of Russia” violated “a principle of the United Nations Charter, the principle of the inviolability of state borders,” said Scholz.
Criticism from the West
China claims to be taking a neutral position in the Ukraine war. The West criticizes the fact that Beijing has not yet condemned the Russian attack on its neighboring country. Since the war began more than two years ago, Moscow and Beijing have even deepened their economic relations and strategic partnership. According to US information, China is now Russia’s most important supplier of machine tools and microelectronics needed to produce missiles, drones, tanks and aircraft.
With regard to the Ukraine war, Xi referred to four principles to prevent escalation. All sides must focus on restoring peace and stability instead of pursuing their own “selfish” interests, Xi said, according to Chinese state media. It is also important to work towards defusing the situation instead of “pouring oil on the fire” and reducing the negative impact on the global economy.
Climate change is also an issue
Scholz met Xi on the last day of his three-day trip to China, during which he was accompanied by Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir and Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing as well as a business delegation. Scholz particularly emphasized the importance of cooperation with China in the fight against climate change. “Extreme weather events such as storms, floods, droughts and cold temperatures affect the entire world,” he said. “Only together will we be able to find solutions, stop climate change and manage the green energy transition in a socially just manner.”
Scholz also spoke to Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang about cooperation on climate change and trade relations. In order for German companies in China to continue to contribute to “growth, innovation, climate protection and sustainability,” they need the right framework conditions, said the Chancellor. “By this we mean equal market access and fair competitive conditions, the protection of intellectual property and a reliable legal system. We want to work on concrete improvements in these areas.”
Wissing, State Secretary for Economic Affairs Franziska Brantner and the Chinese Minister for Industry and Information Technology, Jin Zhuanglong, signed a declaration of intent to cooperate in the field of automated driving.