Pedro Sanchez argues that the Chinese president’s invitation to visit Beijing next week demonstrates the “international recognition” to Spain at a “complex” moment of “geopolitical difficulties” scarred by the war in Ukraine. The President of the Government has assured that he will convey to Xi Jinping that it is the Ukrainians who must set the conditions for an eventual peace agreement with Russia, contrary to what is foreseen in the Chinese plan.
Sánchez thanked the Chinese president for the invitation and has ensured that the visit will focus on three fundamental issues. Firstly, to “strengthen bilateral relations” between Spain and China on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The trip to Beijing will also be a “good occasion” to explain the objectives of the Spanish presidency of the EU during the second half of the year.
But the most important issue will be Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine. China has presented a peace plan that has been welcomed by Vladimir Putin but that generates great skepticism both in the United States and in NATO and in the EU. Jinping, who has just visited Moscow to strengthen his alliance with Russia, has not condemned Russia’s actions and has not called for its withdrawal from the occupied Ukrainian territories.
[España y China celebran 50 años de relación diplomática batiendo récords de intercambios comerciales]
The President of the Government has avoided repeating these criticisms, but has assured that the position that transfers Jinping will be coordinated with the rest of the western partners. Furthermore, it has implicitly distanced itself from the Chinese plan by appealing to Ukraine’s will.
“The most important thing is that a stable and lasting peace can be guaranteed. And that means respecting the United Nations Charter, respect for territorial integrity, which is being violated by Russia in Ukraine. And it will be the Ukrainians themselves who will establish the conditions of this peace dialogue which logically will have to happen”, said Sánchez upon his arrival at the European Council meeting.
Is China a credible actor in this conflict? “It is a global player of the first order”, has responded the President of the Government. “It is important to know first-hand his position on peace in Ukraine and, secondly, also convey to him that it will be the Ukrainians themselves who will establish the conditions for the start of that peace when it arrives,” he insisted.
“The most important thing, the fundamental thing, is to preserve an international order based on rules and that means respecting the United Nations charter and fundamentally one of its main pillars, which is the respect for the territorial integrity of Ukraine that is being violated by President Putin“, says Sanchez.
“I think it is a very important bilateral meeting. It will give the Spanish people the opportunity to communicate from the Government what our main priorities are for the European semester that we are going to start in July. And above all, what is important is to move that international recognition that is being given to Spain in such a complex moment of geopolitical difficulties like the ones we are experiencing. I think this is also important to underline and In this sense, we appreciate the invitation of President Xi Jinping“, it is finished.
