Germany and China promise closer co-operation amid growing background tensions

News Snapshot:

German chancellor Olaf Scholz with China's prime minister Li Qiang at the end of a press conference after German-Chinese economy consultations. Photograph: Tobias Schwarz/Getty Images German chancellor Olaf Scholz has urged China to use its influence over Russia to end the war in Ukraine, amid growing ambivalence in Germany over the correct approach towards Beijing. Mr Scholz said that, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council alongside Russia, Beijing carries a “very special duty” to urge Moscow to end the conflict. “I appealed again to the Chinese government to exert its influence even more strongly on Russia...