EU tariffs on electric vehicles from China and the war in Ukraine were on the agenda as the leaders of two of the world's largest economies met on the sidelines of the summit in Rio de Janeiro.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for Beijing and Berlin to develop ties with a "strategic" and "long-term" perspective Tuesday as he met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Rio de Janeiro, state media said.

Russia has established a weapons programme in China to develop and produce long-range attack drones for use in its war against Ukraine, two sources from a European intelligence agency told Reuters in a report published in September.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz discussed Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine with China's President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, saying it was important that the two economic powers discuss difficult topics.

EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles as well as the war in Ukraine were on the agenda as the leaders of two of the world's largest economies met on the sidelines of the summit in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro.