German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is on his second visit to China since taking office. He is expected to discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine during his summit with President Xi Jinping.

Scholz arrived in the Chinese inland city of Chongqing on Sunday and inspected a German firm's production plant. He is scheduled to visit Shanghai on Monday and meet Xi and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on Tuesday.

A senior German government official said ahead of the visit that the Russian war against Ukraine is a key issue in the talks between Chancellor Scholz and President Xi.

The official said the German government hopes that China will play a more active role in the efforts to end the war and in this sense also influence Russia.

The official added that the chancellor will also talk with the Chinese leaders about economic ties. China is the largest trading partner for Germany.

Scholz is facing a tough balancing act between his government's efforts to lessen what is perceived as excessive economic reliance on China and major German companies' continued embrace of ties with the country.

Meanwhile, France said President Xi would visit the country this spring.

Scholz's current trip to China and Xi's expected travel to France come amid Beijing's strained ties with Washington concerning security, the economy and other issues.