New German chancellor does not discuss human rights with Xi Jinping, wants to deepen economic relations

 

 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to deepen economic relations in their first telephone conversation Tuesday, and the two sides did not mention human rights or the situation in Hong Kong, according to the European edition of Politico.

In statements that seem to reflect the position of his predecessor Angela Merkel, the new German leader told Xi that German-Chinese relations must develop "in a spirit of mutual respect and mutual trust," the Beijing statement said. from Xinhua.

 Scholz also said he hoped the stalled EU-China investment deal "would take effect as soon as possible."

According to Politico, the remark may contradict the coalition agreement that Scholz's Social Democratic Party reached with two other parties to form his current government. The agreement says the investment agreement with China, drafted at Merkel's insistence, cannot be ratified at this stage.

 The investment deal was concluded late last year, but its ratification process was halted due to human rights concerns and China's response: After EU countries sanctioned four Chinese officials involved in the alleged mass internment of Uighurs in Xinjiang region, Beijing sanctioned MEPs, EC officials and some journalists - a reaction that prompted the European Parliament to suspend the deal until China lifted the sanctions.

 The announcement of the conversation from Berlin is less specific, the publication notes. It said the leaders "discussed, among other things, the deepening of bilateral partnership and economic relations, the development of EU-China relations and international affairs". Scholz's office did not respond to a request for comment on whether the Chinese communication correctly presented his remarks on the EU-China deal.

 As Politico points out, none of the testimonies mention any discussion of the human rights situation in China or Sunday's election in Hong Kong, which EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell described on Monday as "a violation of democratic principles and political pluralism ”. The German coalition agreement says the new government "will deal openly with human rights abuses in China, especially in Xinjiang."

 According to the Chinese statement, Scholz said he would "try to organize a new round of German-Chinese government consultations, strengthen practical cooperation in the field of clean energy, digital economy and service industries."

Xi Jinping, for his part, said he hoped "Germany will continue to play a positive role in stabilizing China-EU relations and continue to bring stability and positive energy to China-EU relations," the statement said.