Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Beijing and Berlin to develop their relations with a "strategic" and "long-term" perspective during his meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Rio de Janeiro, AFP reports.
"China and Germany are major countries with significant influence. The two countries should view and develop their bilateral relations from a long-term and strategic perspective," Xi had told Scholz on the sidelines of the G20 summit, according to China's state-run Xinhua news agency.
Scholz last met the Chinese leader in April in Beijing, urging Xi to use his influence with Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
A German government source in Berlin said last week that the two leaders would discuss the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, Sino-German ties and the conditions for fair global trade.
The Chinese media outlet said Xi had expressed a desire to strengthen the "comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Germany".
He has said that China is "willing to continue to write the history of joint cooperation and make our world a peaceful, harmonious and prosperous family," Xinhua reported.
Last year, China was Germany's biggest trading partner, the largest economy in Europe. It is expected to shrink for the second year in a row.
The German industry has been hit by higher energy prices following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and by growing competition from Chinese producers.
The challenges are particularly acute for German car manufacturers, which have made huge profits in China. They now face local competition, especially in the growing market for electric vehicles.
Xi told Scholz that China "will continue to provide ample market opportunities for German companies," state media reported.
"China views Germany as an important partner in advancing Chinese modernisation," he said.
China's importance to the German economy has led Scholz to seek a middle course during his tenure.
The German leader did not join in with the strident trade rhetoric of Washington and some European capitals, but tried to be a critical partner to Beijing.
The meeting could prove to be Scholz's last with Xi as Germany heads toward new elections in February.
Scholz's Social Democrats are currently trailing the conservative CDU-HSS bloc in opinion polls. If the result is confirmed on election day, Scholz is likely to quit as chancellor. | BGNES
