China's Xi Says Eager To Take Germany-China Ties To New Level

Speaking on state media as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is sworn into office, Chinese President Xi Jinping states that he is 'eager to take China-Germany ties to the next level', and that he is 'willing to work with Scholz to deepen China-Germany mutual trust'.

• The relationship with Germany is arguably China's most important relationship in Europe. Previous Chancellor Angela Merkel trod a fine line between courting Chinese investment and maintaining enough distance to offer some criticism of Chinese gov't actions in areas such as Hong Kong and Taiwan.
• Scholz's SPD is seen as much more Sinophillic than Merkel's CDU, potentially indicative of a closer relationship between the two states. However, it should also be noted that Scholz himself is a rare Atlanticist on the German political left, and should China and the US continue to drive towards a multipolar geopolitical landscape, Scholz would likely come down on the side of the United States.