Germany's new Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said China has a central place in the international community.

In his first speech to German lawmakers he said: "We must orient our China policy toward the China that we find in reality.

"This also means not closing our eyes to the critical human rights situation, and calling violations of universal norms by their name."

He added: "That doesn't change the fact that a country of the size and history of China has a central place" in the international community.

That means offering Beijing cooperation on challenges such as climate change and the pandemic, and "we offer China fair economic competition for mutual benefit, with the same rules for all," Scholz said.

China has continuously denied any human rights abuses levelled at it by Germany and other Eu nations. 

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He warned that Russia would face "a high price" for further aggression against Ukraine but also stressed Germany's offer of "constructive dialogue”with Moscow.

But he underlined his message of continuity in foreign policy, telling lawmakers that "the success of Europe is our most important national concern."

Scholz, who took over from long-time Chancellor Angela Merkel last week, insisted the novel alliance of his center-left Social Democrats, the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats will be a progressive coalition.

Scholz starts work as Germany is grappling with its biggest wave of COVID-19 cases of the pandemic so far. There are signs that restrictions imposed in recent weeks are beginning to slow infections and the new chancellor said the country is well placed to fulfill a pledge made in November to get 30 million vaccine shots in arms by the end of this year.

"Yes, things will get better; yes, we will pursue the fight against this pandemic with the greatest determination; and, yes, we will win this fight," he told lawmakers.

"We will do everything that is necessary; there are no red lines for the government," Scholz said. "The government will not rest for a moment, and we will pull every available lever until we have all regained our old lives and all our freedoms."

Scholz also said his government is open to criticism and will listen to doubters, but it won't tolerate "a tiny minority of uninhibited extremists" trying to impose their will on society. German security agencies have warned that parts of the Querdenken movement – a loose collection of groups opposed to the pandemic restrictions – are becoming increasingly radicalized.