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Chancellor Olaf Scholz on video call with Xi Jinping
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IMAGO/Yue Yuewei/ IMAGO/Xinhua
In contrast to many other countries, China has been relatively cautious about the war in Ukraine - head of state and party leader Xi Jinping does not want a break with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Now Xi has spoken to Chancellor Olaf Scholz about the Russian attack.
Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit reported after the video call that the impact on global food supply and energy security was also discussed.
Other topics were the deepening of bilateral relations and economic cooperation, the pandemic, climate protection and relations between Europe and China.
Hebestreit expressed only briefly.
The Chinese side, on the other hand, spoke in more detail.
Xi Jinping warned against an escalation of the Ukraine war, it said.
"Every effort must be made to avoid the intensification and widening of the conflict, leading to an unmanageable situation," Xi said, according to state television.
more on the subject
Russia's war on Ukraine: why China fails as a peace brokerBy Georg Fahrion, Beijing
Chancellor Scholz in Japan: The anti-China tripVeit Medick reports from Tokyo
The European side should seek a solution in a "responsible manner," said China's President.
Apparently in an oblique reference to US influence, Xi Jinping emphasized that European security should be "in the hands of the Europeans themselves."
All parties concerned should support Ukraine and Russia to reach peace through negotiations.
However, Western diplomats complain that Xi Jinping himself is not using his influence on Putin to bring about an end to Russia's war of aggression.
Since the beginning of the invasion, China has been giving him political backing, emphasizing its "strategic partnership" with Moscow and portraying the USA and the eastward expansion of NATO as the main causes of the conflict.
The Chinese side described the talks as "deep and frank".
In diplomatic circles, this is usually a code for differences.
During his first visit as chancellor to Asia, Scholz visited Japan at the end of April, avoiding China, which had maintained good relations with its predecessor, Angela Merkel (CDU).
A course correction in China policy had already been indicated with the change of government in Berlin.
The war in Ukraine and German disappointment with China's support for Putin are now leading the German government to reassess relations with Beijing.
mfh/dpa
