New Zealand PM demands China use its influence to end Ukraine war

Aug. 1 (EUROPA PRESS) –

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has demanded that China use its influence to end the war in Ukraine, while calling for it to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, all during a speech held on Monday at the China Business Summit held in Auckland, Northern New Zealand.

“We continue to urge China to be clear that it does not support the Russian invasion and we have asked it to use its access and influence to help end the conflict,” said the New Zealand president, according to the newspaper ‘Stuff’ .

Ardern has argued that when large countries ignore sovereignty and territorial integrity, they can feel “with a sense of impunity”, a fact that he has described as a bad omen, “particularly for small countries like New Zealand”.

Likewise, Ardern has assured that he will continue to strengthen ties with the Asian giant, both in the economic sphere and in respect of Human Rights, referring to the tensions in southern China and in the Taiwan Strait, reported ‘The Sydeny Morning Herald’.

“Managing the differences in our relationship is not always going to be easy and there are not always guarantees. But as a government we continue to work hard, through dialogue and diplomacy,” added Ardern.

For his part, China’s ambassador to New Zealand, Wang Xiaolong, has assured his country that it does not want a “Cold War mentality” or “the division of the world along ideological lines.”

“China is committed to working with New Zealand and other partners to jointly safeguard peace and stability and oppose any attempts or provocations to create tension or stoke conflict in this region,” Wang added.