05/12/2023
China’s representative for Eurasian affairs will travel to Europe in June to “discuss a political solution to the crisis in Ukraine.”
The Chinese government’s special envoy for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, will travel to Europe next Monday, visiting Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany and Russia to “communicate with all parties on a political solution to the crisis in Ukraine.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin announced the visit for this Friday (December 5, 2023), stating that this trip “expresses the Asian country’s commitment to promoting peace talks.”
In late April, and for the first time since the Russian invasion began, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in which the Chinese leader announced the appointment of a special envoy to Ukraine.
At the meeting, Chinese President Zelensky declared that he would not “watch the conflict from afar in the hope of gaining benefits” nor “add more fuel to the fire” and that “dialogue and negotiations” are “the only way out.” be”.
Wang said at a press conference that China stands ready to “continue to play a constructive role to achieve greater international consensus on a ceasefire to end the war and start peace talks.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (left) and Chinese ruler Xi Jinping.
He also stated that the Asian country had “always maintained an objective and impartial position” and “actively pushed for peace and dialogue” since the war began.
The spokesman recalled the position paper on the conflict released by China last February, assuring that it “considers the legitimate concerns of all parties and is widely understood and accepted by the international community”.
China, which opposes sanctions against Moscow, called for a “political solution” to the war in Ukraine in the letter, a proposal criticized by the West for putting “the aggressor and the victims” on an equal footing.
Given the good relations with Russia, many international voices are calling for Beijing, which has attempted to mediate in several conflicts in recent months, to use its influence over Moscow to end the war.
CP (efe, afp)