CHINA-For Min Raises Russia, Human Rights, Climate Change w/Chinese FM

The German Foreign Ministry has released a readout following an hour-long video call between Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Excerpts from readout below:

• "[... Germany strongly appeals to all members of the international community to condemn Russia's illegal war of aggression and to assume their responsibility to uphold international law and to protect the UN charter."
• "Human rights are a fundamental part of the international order and Germany is committed to protecting them worldwide. Foreign Minister Baerbock therefore also addressed the shocking reports and new evidence of very serious human rights violations in Xinjiang and called for a transparent investigation."
• "The greatest challenge for the international community is the climate crisis...Germany is prepared to step up its cooperation with China in this area."

• Under the Merkel gov't, Germany was often one of China's main interlocutors in the EU given the deep trade and investment links existing and sought between the two sides. However, Baerbock's comments here could signal a shift towards a more hard-line stance from Berlin.