German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz said this Friday (November 4, 2022) that he asked Chinese President Xi Jinping, whom he met in Beijing, to “influence” Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
“I told the (Chinese) president that it is important for China to exert its influence on Russia,” the German chancellor told reporters. “Russia must immediately stop the daily attacks on the civilian population and withdraw from Ukraine,” he added.
The German leader also asked the Russian president “not to refuse” the extension of the Ukrainian grain export agreement, which expires on November 19.
“I am asking the Russian president not to refuse to extend the grain agreement that expires in a few days. Hunger must not become another weapon,” he declared.
Scholz also pointed out that he “called on President Xi to actively participate in the fight against hunger in the world” and stressed that “China and Germany have a special responsibility, as international lenders” to act against the debt degradation of the poorest countries.
The head of the German government said he also discussed with Xi other issues of tension between Beijing and Western countries, such as Taiwan and respect for human rights.
ct (efe, afp)