By Andreas Rinke and Sarah Marsh
CHONGQING/BERLIN (Reuters) – Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned Iran against further attacks on Israel on Sunday, as the escalating conflict in the Middle East overshadowed the start of his three-day tour of China.
Scholz is visiting the southwestern city of Chongqing as well as Shanghai and Beijing as part of a visit to strengthen ties with Germany's top trading partner while addressing growing divisions over issues including trade practices. Chinese and their support for Russia.
But Iran's attack on Israel appears destined to redefine the agenda and tone of the visit. Scholz, for example, will participate from his hotel in a video meeting of G7 leaders on Sunday to discuss Iran's attack on Israel, a source in the German delegation told Reuters.
German officials had also expressed hope before the trip that Beijing could play a positive role in cooling rising tensions in the Middle East, despite their critical assessment of its support for Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.
China played a mediating role between Iran and Saudi Arabia last year, and Reuters reported that China had asked Iran to help curb attacks on ships in the Red Sea by the Iran-backed Houthis, or risk damaging relations. trade with Beijing.
Scholz, who is traveling with several German CEOs, will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday.
“We will do everything possible to stop further escalation,” Scholz told reporters. “We can only warn everyone, especially Iran, not to continue like this.”
Upon his arrival, Scholz condemned the Iranian attacks against Israel “in the strongest possible terms,” his spokesman said. Government sources said Scholz was briefed on developments in the Middle East during the flight.
On Sunday, the chancellor visited German auto supplier Bosch's hydrogen fuel cell plant in Chongqing, highlighting an area of growing tensions.
The EU is carrying out several investigations into whether Chinese exports of green technology, such as battery electric vehicles, which it claims have benefited from state subsidies and could harm local producers.
The German car industry fears these investigations could lead to a trade war that could damage its prospects in the world's largest car market. Scholz's visit is being watched for signs of how much Germany supports the EU investigation and is willing to go against the wishes of a key domestic industry.
Scholz said Sunday that the plant showed the importance of cooperation to address the big challenges facing the world, such as climate change.
Berlin's overall stance toward China has become more critical since the war in Ukraine.
Last year, Germany also published its first China strategy, outlining “unfair practices” and the risks to supply chains in a potential conflict over Taiwan, and urging “de-risking.” However, efforts to diversify outside China are so far patchy.
During his visit, Scholz is also expected to address China's support for Russia. On Friday, German officials said bluntly that Beijing's support and exports to Russia were allowing Moscow to wage a war of aggression in Ukraine and causing a “growing loss of China's reputation” in Europe and beyond.
“This is about China not supporting Russia in waging a brutal war against its neighbor Ukraine,” Scholz wrote in a post on social media platform x on Saturday.
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