China backs all efforts to achieve peace, FM says

Nation to continue playing constructive role in Ukraine crisis' political settlement

China has reiterated its commitment to supporting all peace efforts aimed at achieving a political solution to the Ukraine crisis and expressed its hope for a fair, lasting and binding peace agreement acceptable to all parties concerned.

On Saturday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, at Sybiha's request, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany and vowed that China will continue to play a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis and in the realization of peace.

Ukraine values China's significant influence as a major country and appreciates its "objective and balanced" position, Sybiha said, adding that Ukraine expects China to play an important role in achieving comprehensive, fair and sustainable peace.

When addressing the conference on Friday, Wang also emphasized the need to resolve the crisis through dialogue and consultation, saying he hopes that all parties directly involved in the matter, as well as other stakeholders, would be able to participate in peace talks in due course.

"Any conflict ultimately finds its resolution at the negotiating table," he said, adding that China welcomes all efforts dedicated to peace, including the recent consensus between the United States and Russia on peace talks.

Because the conflict unfolded on European soil, he highlighted the importance of Europe's role in fostering peace and addressing the root causes of the crisis, in order to establish a balanced, effective and sustainable security framework to ensure long-term stability in the region.

"China is not the instigator of this crisis, nor is it a direct party to it. However, it is not standing idle, nor is it seeking to exploit the situation," Wang said, adding that the country has instead relentlessly striven for peace.

One day after the conflict started, China proposed a political settlement through dialogue and later sent special envoys for shuttle diplomacy.

China has consistently upheld that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter observed, the legitimate security concerns of all sides taken seriously, and all efforts conducive to a peaceful settlement of the crisis supported.

China also jointly issued with Brazil a six-point consensus and launched the Group of Friends for Peace together with other Global South nations, in order to de-escalate tensions and facilitate a political settlement.

Noting that Sino-Russian ties feature nonalignment and nonconfrontation and do not target any third party, Wang said oil and gas trade between the two neighbors is normal economic and trade interactions.

"If China doesn't import oil and gas from Russia, how can it fill the gap and meet the needs of over 1.4 billion Chinese people?" he said.

Cui Hongjian, director of Beijing Foreign Studies University's Center of the European Union and Regional Development Studies, said: "China's propositions are objective, fair, rational and pragmatic, taking into account reasonable concerns of all sides. They align with the common interests of Russia and Ukraine, and reflect the consensus of the global community."

Cui added that Saturday's talks between the two foreign ministers "shows Ukraine's trust in China", because China "is a neutral party and refrains from geopolitical manipulation, demonstrating its responsibility as a major global power committed to upholding world peace and stability".

During the talks, Wang said China views Ukraine as a friend and a partner. He called for advancing bilateral ties and voiced the hope that Ukraine would ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel on its soil.

Sybiha said bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation has brought benefits to the two peoples, adding that Ukraine is willing to strengthen cooperation with China.