Scholz in China: Concerns of German Companies and Ukraine War on the Agenda

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has arrived in China for a three-day visit, where he is expected to address the concerns of German companies and discuss Russia's war in Ukraine.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz landed in China on Sunday, with the primary focus of his visit likely aimed at improving the strained relationship between the two countries.

German companies feel disadvantaged
German companies have been complaining about unfair treatment in China. They particularly suffer from informal access restrictions, such as poorer access to networks and Chinese universities.

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German companies also feel disadvantaged in comparison to their Chinese competitors in terms of tax incentives. The same applies to public tenders, tax breaks, and market access.

Ukraine war remains contentious issue
However, it's not just economic differences: Russia's war in Ukraine remains a contentious issue. China continues to maintain close ties with Moscow.

Shortly before his arrival, Scholz criticized the "massive Russian airstrikes" on Ukrainian energy infrastructure on the X platform.

In another post, he stated that his visit to China is aimed at ensuring "that China does not support Russia in waging a brutal war against Ukraine."

Since taking office in December 2021, this is Scholz's second visit to China. He made his inaugural visit there in November 2022.