![\"tagreuters.com2023binary_LYNXMPEJ3O0AN-VIEWIMAGE\"](\"http:\/\/lynettelockhart.com\/client\/wp-content\/uploads\/Reuters_Direct_Media\/USOnlineReportWorldNews\/tagreuters.com2023binary_LYNXMPEJ3O0AN-VIEWIMAGE.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has invited Chinese Premier Li Qiang for talks in Berlin on June 20, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.<\/p>\n
China’s State Council Information Office, which handles media queries on behalf of the central government, was not immediately available for comment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scholz’s government is developing a new China strategy to reduce dependence on Asia’s economic superpower, a vital export market for German goods.<\/p>\n
Scholz in November became the first leader from the Group of Seven countries (G7) to visit Beijing since the COVID-19 pandemic. <\/p>\n
But points of friction remain, from Germany pressing for more access for its companies in the Chinese market and German misgivings about Chinese investment in critical infrastructure in Germany. <\/p>\n
Scholz’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, last week described a recent trip to China as “more than shocking” and said it was becoming more of a systemic rival than a trade partner. <\/p>\n
China in turn criticised as “vile” a trip by a German minister to Taiwan in March. <\/p>\n
Scholz aims to enlist China as a key partner on challenges like peace and climate change while setting out red lines to any changes to the status quo in Taiwan, Bloomberg reported.<\/p>\n
\n(Reporting by Andreas Rinke, Ryan Woo and Bharat Govind Gautam; Writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Robert Birsel)<\/p>\n
![\"tagreuters.com2023binary_LYNXMPEJ3O0AO-VIEWIMAGE\"](\"http:\/\/lynettelockhart.com\/client\/wp-content\/uploads\/Reuters_Direct_Media\/USOnlineReportWorldNews\/tagreuters.com2023binary_LYNXMPEJ3O0AO-VIEWIMAGE.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"