China urges Europe to play its ceasefire role in Ukraine war

March 24 (EUROPA PRESS) –

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged the European Union to play its part in talks to negotiate a ceasefire in the Ukraine war.

“China hopes that France and other European countries will also play their role in this regard,” Wang said in a call with the diplomatic adviser to the French Presidency, Emmanuel Bonne.

“The ceasefire and cessation of the war, the resumption of peace talks and the political solution of the crisis must become the strategic consensus between China and the European Union,” added the Chinese foreign minister.

Wang made these statements after exchanging views with Bonne on the bilateral meeting between the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

For Beijing, Xi’s trip to Russia is “an important visit between two neighboring countries”, which is not limited to “a cooperation trip, but also a peace trip”, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Thus, he has defended the position of the Chinese authorities on the issue of Ukraine, stressing that they continue to maintain their basic position of promoting peace and talks. He has also considered that their meeting has sent “a voice of peace to the international community, demonstrating the desire for dialogue.”

However, EU leaders said on Thursday that if China wants to play the role of mediator in Ukraine, it must start by maintaining contacts with Kiev to set the elements for future peace talks, insisting that the country’s territorial integrity must be respected. and for Russian troops to leave their territory.

The position of Brussels is added to that of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dimitro Kuleba, who on Monday asked the Asian giant, “as a world power”, to play “an important role” to achieve a political solution to the conflict, stressing the relations of “mutual respect, understanding and benefit” between both countries.

In addition, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg pointed out that any peace plan, such as the one proposed by China, must take into account the Ukrainian perspective, which is why he has asked Beijing to contact Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky, ” if he is serious about the peace plan” and seeks a “sustainable” way out of the conflict.