Flags of China and Russia are displayed in this illustration image taken on March 24, 2022. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration
BEIJING, April 2 – China is not intentionally circumventing sanctions against Russia, a senior Chinese diplomat said on Saturday, a day after the European Union warned Beijing against allowing Moscow to circumvent measures imposed in the wake of Russia’s invasion imposed on Ukraine.
Wang Lutong, director-general for European affairs at China’s Foreign Ministry, told reporters that China contributes to the world economy through normal trade with Russia.
“China is not an affiliated party to the crisis in Ukraine. We don’t think our normal trade with any other country should be affected,” he said.
Wang’s comments come a day after a virtual EU-China summit that included the EU’s comments on sanctions and China’s assurances it would seek peace for Ukraine, but “in its own way.” Continue reading
Beijing, which has forged closer ties with Moscow, has refused to condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine or call it an invasion, and has repeatedly criticized what it calls illegal and unilateral western sanctions.
“We oppose sanctions, and the effects of these sanctions risk spilling over to the rest of the world, leading to currency wars, trade and financial wars, and also jeopardizing the supply chain and the industrial chain, as well as globalization and even the economic order,” Wang said .
Wang also said no progress was made on a stalled investment deal between the two sides during the summit.
The EU and China struck an investment deal in late 2020, but it was suspended after Brussels sanctioned Chinese officials over alleged human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region, prompting Beijing to blacklist EU individuals and entities.
“The ball is in Brussels,” Wang said.
“I think the Europeans need to lift the sanctions first and then we can look at the possibility of lifting other reprisals based on reciprocity,” he said.
While China-EU relations have been tense, Wang also spoke of common ground between the major trading partners, saying the two sides will deepen cooperation on combating climate change.
He also said that issues like Ukraine and Iran are points of cooperation, not points of friction.
Wang described Friday’s talks as “very candid, frank and deep,” echoing a similar characterization by EU officials.
European Commission and Council Presidents Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel spoke with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang for about two hours, followed by a one-hour session with President Xi Jinping, Wang said.
Reporting by Yew Lun Tian; writing by Tony Munroe; Edited by Christian Schmollinger