BERLIN - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to China from April 15-16, the FAZ newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing an invitation sent to business representatives by the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business.

Scholz will be accompanied by a business delegation, according to the newspaper.

A government spokesperson said that Scholz's public appearances were announced on the Friday before they took place.

Scholz was last in China in November 2022, when he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. In what was the first visit by a G7 leader to China since the COVID-19 pandemic, Scholz pressed Xi to prevail on Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine, saying Beijing had a responsibility as a major power to do so.

Scholz heads to Washington this week, where he will meet with U.S. President Joe Biden to discuss the war in Ukraine, among other topics.

The Asia-Pacific Committee will draw up a list of interested parties, with the Federal Chancellery making the final decision on who will join Scholz to China this time, according to the FAZ. REUTERS