Germany’s Scholz urges Xi to exert influence on Russia

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for peace talks over Ukraine and warned against the conflict going nuclear in a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who urged China to exert its influence on Russia. The German leader is in Beijing for a one-day visit that has drawn criticism over China’s tacit support for Russia, and for coming after Xi cemented his authoritarian rule at a Communist Party congress last month. His visit reflects the importance of Germany’s trade ties with China, the world’s second-largest economy. In his opening remarks, Scholz referred directly to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that has created millions of refugees and upended world food and energy markets.