During a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine and warned against the crisis getting nuclear.

The German leader is in Beijing for a one-day visit that has garnered criticism over China's tacit backing for Russia, persistent disputes over economic ties, and human rights concerns.

It follows Mr. Xi's further consolidation of his autocratic control at a crucial Communist Party congress last month.

The significance of Germany's commercial links with China, the world's second-largest economy, is highlighted by Mr. Scholz's visit, notably in the automobile and manufacturing industries.

Mercedes-Benz sold more automobiles in China than in any other country in 2012, according to corporate data.

Mr. Scholz got a formal greeting from Mr. Xi, the newly reappointed leader of the ruling Communist Party, at the Great Hall of the People in the heart of Beijing.

Mr. Xi remarked that Mr. Scholz's visit coincides with the two nations' commemoration of more than 50 years of diplomatic relations, which date back to when they renewed economic exchanges despite their Cold War rivalry; these exchanges continue to be an integral component of their relationship.

Mr. Xi was quoted by state television CCTV as adding, "The world situation is currently complex and volatile."

"As prominent powers, China and Germany should collaborate to contribute more to international peace and development in times of instability and transition."

CCTV claimed that Mr. Xi stated that China supports Germany and the EU in playing an important role in encouraging peace talks and constructing a balanced, effective, and durable European security system.

Mr. Xi stated that the international community should jointly reject the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons.

Vladimir Putin, the leader of Russia, has reaffirmed Moscow's unverified assertion that Ukraine is planning a false-flag strike with a radioactive dirty bomb that it would try to blame on Russia without providing evidence.

Ukraine has categorically denied the accusation, and its western allies have deemed it to be "obviously false."

Ukraine stated that Russia may be making the allegation to conceal a suspected plan to detonate a dirty bomb by itself.

Mr. Scholz is the first leader from the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations to meet with Mr. Xi since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, which was first detected in China in 2019, and the first European leader to visit China since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which Germany has opposed vehemently.

The diplomatically delicate trip occurs as Germany and the European Union develop a strategy for dealing with an increasingly assertive and authoritarian Beijing.

Beijing has provided diplomatic support to Moscow by repeatedly calling for peace negotiations while refusing to accept United Nations measures against Russia's invasion.

In addition, it has accused the United States and NATO of inciting the attack and harshly criticized the economic penalties placed on Russia.

According to the German news agency DPA, in his opening remarks, Mr. Scholz spoke directly to the conflict that has spawned millions of migrants and disrupted global food and energy markets, stating, "We meet here at a time of immense strain."

Mr. Scholz was cited as saying, "In particular, I want to stress the Russian conflict against Ukraine, which poses numerous challenges to our rules-based international system."

DPA stated that Mr. Scholz also mentioned global hunger, climate change, and developing world debt as significant challenges.

Mr. Scholz stated at a later news conference that he informed Mr. Xi that "it is crucial for China to exert its influence on Russia."

"President Xi and I concur that nuclear threats are reckless and extremely perilous. Russia would breach a line created by the world community if it used nuclear weapons, he warned.

Mr. Scholz also stated that he brought up human rights and market access, and warned Mr. Xi that any change to Taiwan's position as a self-governing nation "can only occur by peaceful means and mutual consent."

China asserts that the island republic is its territory, to be subjugated by force if necessary.

In an apparent reference to European legislators and the Baltic state of Lithuania that China has banned and boycotted over their relations with Taiwan, Mr. Scholz stated, "It is also important to be clear that economic measures against individual EU member states are aimed at the entire EU single market, and sanctions against EU legislators are unacceptable to us."

Mr. Scholz, who relies on a coalition of his Social Democratic Party, the Greens, and the Free Democratic Party, has been criticized for visiting China so soon after Mr. Xi's victory at last month's congress, where he was named to a third five-year term and packed the all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee with allies who support his vision of tighter control over society and the economy and a more confrontational approach to the West.

A UN assessment stated that Chinese human rights violations against Uighurs and other ethnic groups in its Xinjiang region may amount to crimes against humanity. The visit also coincides with escalating tensions over Taiwan.

Mr. Scholz is accompanied by over a dozen of Germany's most prominent business leaders, including the CEOs of Volkswagen, BMW, BASF, Bayer, and Deutsche Bank, the majority of whom have booming operations in China.

In Beijing, Mr. Scholz will also meet with company representatives.

This has prompted some German analysts to ask whether the nation is becoming unduly dependent on the Chinese market, as it did with Russia for energy supplies.

After lunch, Mr. Scholz and his delegation were scheduled to meet with Premier Li Keqiang, who is technically in charge of China's economy.

Mr. Scholz explained in an article for the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that he was traveling to Beijing "just because business as usual is not possible in this situation."

"It is obvious that if China changes, so must our relationship with China," Mr. Scholz stated, adding, "we will eliminate one-sided dependency in the spirit of intelligent diversification."

Mr. Scholz also stated that he will address "tough problems" such as the rights of Xinjiang's ethnic minority.

His messages will be scrutinized closely, especially at home, where he has been criticized for normalizing China's behavior.

While Mr. Scholz's almost-year-old government has signaled a shift from Angela Merkel's trade-first strategy, his trip follows internal turmoil over a Chinese shipping company's large investment in a container terminal in Hamburg, Germany's most important port.

Due to China's continued enforcement of stringent Covid-19 regulations, his delegation is moving in an anti-virus bubble, undergoing testing, and will not spend the night in Beijing.

It is the shortest journey ever made to China by a German leader, clocking in at just 11 hours.

The crew that took Mr. Scholz to Beijing traveled to South Korea to avoid being quarantined during his visit.

German officials say the purpose of the trip is to investigate China's future direction and possible avenues of cooperation.

An official cited China's "particular responsibility" as an ally of Russia to help end the war in Ukraine and press Moscow to tone down its nuclear rhetoric; concerns over tensions in Taiwan and the wider region; Germany's desire for a "level playing field" in economic relations; and Mr. Scholz's current position as the G7 chair for this year.