German chancellor Scholz to visit China next month
October 22, 2022, 6:30 pm

German chancellor Scholz to visit China next month

File photo. Olaf Scholz @OlafScholz

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday (Oct 21) announced plans for a visit to China as Berlin is reviewing its overall strategy toward Beijing, according to the Anadolu Agency.

Speaking on the sidelines of the EU summit in Brussels, Scholz said: "I have been planning a visit (to China). We are trying to find a date for that visit."

Human rights concerns are likely to overshadow the trip: Scholz will likely be the first Western leader to visit Beijing since the U.N.'s human rights chief Michelle Bachelet found that China has committed "serious human rights violations" against the Uyghur Muslim community, stating that such acts are potential crimes against humanity.

The German government is currently in internal discussions on its first national security strategy, which is supposed to be published early next year and would also address relations with China.

According to Scholz's spokesman, the trip would take place in the beginning of November.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday (Oct 21) announced plans for a visit to China as Berlin is reviewing its overall strategy toward Beijing - Photo. Pixabay

EU leaders officially began a collective rethink about the bloc’s increasingly fraught relationship with China, displaying a sense of urgency unseen prior to the Russian war against Ukraine.

The planned visit comes at a time when the German Foreign Ministry is working on a new China strategy following the experience of being economically too dependent on Russia.

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Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasized that after the experience of over-relying economically on Russia, Germany should no longer make itself dependent on any country "that does not share our values." Such mistakes should not be made twice.

Economic dependency makes Germany "politically blackmailable," she told the Munich-based Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper when it comes to dealing with China.

"It's not about complete decoupling, which is not possible in one of the largest countries. But opening up alternative markets in Asia, diversification and risk management,” Baerbock added.

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German intelligence agencies have also warned about China, saying the Asian powerhouse could in the long run be a far greater threat to German security interests than Russia, according to a report by the German Press Agency (Dpa).

Scholz has repeatedly emphasized the importance of cooperating with China, and one official said the chancellor would stress the importance of upholding international law in his discussions with Xi and push the Chinese leader to take a harder line on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Scholz also sees particular importance in cooperating with China in the fight against climate change, as he hopes to win Beijing as a partner for a climate club — an idea that he initiated last year to promote climate protection among the world's biggest economies.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.