China’s foreign minister on Monday called Russia Beijing’s “most important strategic partner” despite mounting losses from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Wang Yi specifically called China’s ties with Russia “one of the most important bilateral relations in the world,” according to the Associated Press.
Like the US, the European Union and much of the rest of the world, which imposed sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion, China refused to condemn Russia’s actions during the attack on Ukraine.
China, meanwhile, argues that the sanctions create other problems and jeopardize a political solution to the crisis.
“No matter how dangerous the international landscape is, we will maintain our strategic focus and promote the development of a comprehensive partnership between China and Russia in the new era,” Wang said.
Wang also had a telephone conversation with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
Anthony BlinkenHouse is working on a bill to ban Russian oil imports The average gas price is the highest in more than a decade Blinken arrived in Moldova with assurances to MORE on Saturday, during which he said that China did not want to “add fuel to the fire” in Ukraine. Instead, he called for negotiations to resolve the crisis, the AP added.
Reuters noted that Wang also said that the Chinese Red Cross would provide assistance to Ukraine “as soon as possible,” the first such assistance from Beijing amid the crisis. Wang did not provide further details on what this assistance would entail.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine has drawn comparisons to China and Taiwan. But Wang said the Taiwan issue is “fundamentally different” from Ukraine because the island is “an integral part of China’s territory,” according to the wire service.
Last month, Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich PutinKristen Stewart Pays Tribute to Ukraine at Independent Film Awards Following this meeting, the leaders issued a joint statement saying they have “strong mutual support to protect their core interests.”
Russia has declared support for Taiwan as “an integral part of China and opposes any form of Taiwan independence”, and China has supported Russia’s opposition to NATO expansion.