Chinese President Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in areas such as the economy and climate change. They also reportedly had an in-depth exchange of views on the crisis in Ukraine.

According to China’s foreign ministry, Xi noted at Tuesday’s summit meeting of the two in Beijing that China and Germany are the world’s second and third-largest economies. He stressed that their relationship should be expanded from a long-term and strategic viewpoint.

Xi added that China’s exports of electric vehicles and lithium batteries enriched global supply and contributed significantly to the world’s response to climate change.

The German government said Scholz told Xi the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has had a significant negative impact on security in Europe and damaged the entire international order.

Scholz is believed to have urged China to step up pressure on Russia to stop its invasion.

A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry revealed that the two leaders exchanged views on the high-level conference proposed by Ukraine scheduled to be held in Switzerland in June. Xi voiced support for peace talks in which all parties could participate equally and hold impartial discussions.

On the fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the two leaders are said to have agreed on the need to prevent the conflict from spreading. They called on relevant countries to play a constructive role in avoiding a further escalation of violence.