(ANSA-AFP) - BEIJING, NOV 4 - Xi Jinping welcomed German
Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Beijing Friday, with both sides
seeking to deepen economic cooperation on a trip that has
prompted criticism over Berlin's growing reliance on an
increasingly authoritarian China. Scholz is the first G7 leader
to visit China since the start of the coronavirus pandemic,
which has seen the world's number two economy close its borders
and Xi largely eschew in-person diplomacy. The German leader's
trip has sparked controversy at home, coming so soon after Xi
strengthened his hold on power and as tensions run high between
the West and Beijing on issues ranging from Taiwan to alleged
human rights abuses. Received by a smiling Xi at Beijing's Great
Hall of the People shortly after arriving, Scholz said he hoped
to "further develop" economic cooperation -- while alluding to
areas of disagreement. (ANSA-AFP).
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