German Chancellor Olaf Scholz commenced his visit to China on Sunday, as reported by Chinese state media, aiming to strengthen economic ties with Beijing, Germany's largest trading partner.

Scholz arrived in the city of Chongqing accompanied by a substantial delegation of ministers and business executives. Amid increasing pressure from Western allies on Beijing, Scholz intends to emphasize Germany's rejection of calls for "decoupling" from China and reaffirm its commitment to fostering economic relations.

Despite these friendly gestures towards China, Scholz's approach risks drawing criticism from Washington and EU partners who oppose Beijing's substantial subsidies to industries.

"China remains a crucial economic partner," Scholz emphasized, expressing his intent to address concerns about fairness for German companies operating in China.

In addition to economic matters, Scholz aims to leverage his visit to urge Chinese President Xi Jinping to use his influence to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to end Russia's war in Ukraine.

"Given China's close ties with Russia, Beijing has the ability to exert influence on Russia," noted a German government source in Berlin.

Scholz's three-day itinerary includes visits to Chongqing, Shanghai, and Beijing, marking his second trip to China since assuming office as German Chancellor. This visit underscores the significance of diplomatic efforts to navigate complex geopolitical dynamics and advance economic cooperation between Germany and China.