<p> China's President Xi Jinping on Wednesday congratulated Olaf Scholz, saying Beijing was willing to work with Germany's new Chancellor to "promote bilateral ties to a new level", state media reported.</p>.<p>"China is willing to consolidate and deepen political mutual trust, expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields with Germany," Xi told Scholz, according to the official Xinhua news agency.</p>.<p>Scholz was sworn in as Germany's next chancellor on Wednesday after 16 years with Angela Merkel at the helm, as a new centre-left-led coalition took the wheel of Europe's top economy.</p>.<p>He won 395 of the 707 votes cast in the Bundestag lower house, and has pledged broad "continuity" with the popular Merkel while making Germany greener and fairer.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/olaf-scholz-takes-reins-from-merkel-for-new-german-era-1058839.html" target="_blank">Olaf Scholz takes reins from Merkel for new German era</a></strong></p>.<p>Xi on Wednesday told Scholz in a congratulatory message that the two countries had long sought "common ground while shelving differences" and demonstrated "their sense of responsibility as major countries", according to Xinhua.</p>.<p>Xi's swift congratulatory message for Scholz stands in stark contrast with Beijing's weekslong silence before congratulating US President Biden after he won the presidential election last November.</p>.<p>China is Germany's largest trading partner, with 213.2 billion euros worth of goods traded between the two countries last year, according to German government statistics.</p>.<p>Predecessor Merkel has been accused of lacking bite on human rights issues in China, including Beijing's mass incarceration of Uyghurs in the far western region of Xinjiang.</p>.<p>Critics said she was hamstrung by huge economic interests in China.</p>.<p>The incoming government has pledged a tougher stance on authoritarian states such as Russia and China.</p>
<p> China's President Xi Jinping on Wednesday congratulated Olaf Scholz, saying Beijing was willing to work with Germany's new Chancellor to "promote bilateral ties to a new level", state media reported.</p>.<p>"China is willing to consolidate and deepen political mutual trust, expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields with Germany," Xi told Scholz, according to the official Xinhua news agency.</p>.<p>Scholz was sworn in as Germany's next chancellor on Wednesday after 16 years with Angela Merkel at the helm, as a new centre-left-led coalition took the wheel of Europe's top economy.</p>.<p>He won 395 of the 707 votes cast in the Bundestag lower house, and has pledged broad "continuity" with the popular Merkel while making Germany greener and fairer.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/olaf-scholz-takes-reins-from-merkel-for-new-german-era-1058839.html" target="_blank">Olaf Scholz takes reins from Merkel for new German era</a></strong></p>.<p>Xi on Wednesday told Scholz in a congratulatory message that the two countries had long sought "common ground while shelving differences" and demonstrated "their sense of responsibility as major countries", according to Xinhua.</p>.<p>Xi's swift congratulatory message for Scholz stands in stark contrast with Beijing's weekslong silence before congratulating US President Biden after he won the presidential election last November.</p>.<p>China is Germany's largest trading partner, with 213.2 billion euros worth of goods traded between the two countries last year, according to German government statistics.</p>.<p>Predecessor Merkel has been accused of lacking bite on human rights issues in China, including Beijing's mass incarceration of Uyghurs in the far western region of Xinjiang.</p>.<p>Critics said she was hamstrung by huge economic interests in China.</p>.<p>The incoming government has pledged a tougher stance on authoritarian states such as Russia and China.</p>