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German chancellor Scholz to visit China next month

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.

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.
Olaf Scholz: Russia threatening Europe and NATO again
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.
Germany's Olaf Scholz to meet with Turkey's Erdoğan next week
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 Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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