World |
Chinese and Ukrainian foreign ministers hold talks, highlighting China's commitment to promoting peace | |
|
|
A meeting of the UN Security Council on the Ukraine crisis is held at the UN headquarters in New York City, on Feburary 24 (XINHUA)
'One issue is in the center of attention, peace in Ukraine. We will talk, we will find common ground. We should avoid rivalry of peace plans and move toward a just and sustainable peace. China could play a major role in it," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a video posted on social media platform Instagram on July 23. He made the post upon his arrival in Guangzhou in Guangdong Province, for a four-day visit to China. It was the first of its kind by a Ukrainian official to China since the Ukraine crisis began in February 2022, also the first by a Ukrainian foreign minister to China since 2012. During talks with Kuleba on July 24, Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese Foreign Minister, called for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis and the healthy and steady development of China-Ukraine relations. "China's role in the Ukraine crisis has always been promoting peace talks, and the fact that Kuleba is visiting China for talks demonstrates Ukraine's growing recognition of China's role in fostering peace negotiations," Zhang Hong, an associate researcher with the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told newspaper Global Times. Political settlement The Ukraine crisis has entered its third year and the conflict is still ongoing, with risks of escalation and spillover, Wang said. He continued that China is firmly committed to promoting a political settlement of the crisis, and the four principles laid out by President Xi Jinping form China's fundamental approach to solving the crisis. On April 16, while talking with visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Beijing, Xi emphasized the need to prevent the Ukraine crisis from spiraling out of control and to restore peace at an early date. "First, we should prioritize the upholding of peace and stability and refrain from seeking selfish gains. Second, we should cool the situation down and not add fuel to the fire. Third, we need to create conditions for the restoration of peace and refrain from further exacerbating tensions. Fourth, we should reduce the negative impact on the world economy and refrain from undermining the stability of global industrial and supply chains," Xi said. On this basis, Wang said, China and Brazil jointly issued six common understandings for a political resolution to the crisis in May. According to the document, China and Brazil call on all related parties to observe three principles for deescalating the situation, namely, no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting and no provocation by any party. They support the holding of an international peace conference at a proper time that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation of all parties as well as fair discussion of all peace plans. The two sides also agree that efforts are needed to increase humanitarian assistance to relevant regions and prevent a humanitarian crisis on a larger scale. Attacks on civilians or civilian facilities must be avoided, and civilians, especially women, children and prisoners of war (POWs), must be protected. They support the exchange of POWs between the parties to the conflict. China and Brazil also call for major measures to prevent nuclear risks and ensure the stability of industrial and supply chains. The common understandings have garnered widespread support and feedback from the international community, Wang added. China believes that all conflicts have to end at the negotiating table, and all disputes must be resolved through political means, Wang said, adding that recently both Ukraine and Russia have shown willingness for negotiations. "Although the conditions and timing are not yet ripe, we support all efforts conducive to peace and stand ready to continue to play a constructive role for a ceasefire and resumption of peace talks," he said, adding that China is closely following the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and will continue to provide humanitarian assistance. Kuleba said Ukraine attached importance to China's views, and studied the six common understandings for a political resolution of the Ukraine crisis. The Ukrainian side is willing to and preparing to conduct dialogue and negotiations with Russia. Of course, negotiations should be rational and substantive, aiming to achieve a just and lasting peace, Kuleba said, according to a statement on the official website of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently signaled a readiness to engage in negotiations with Russia for the first time since the onset of the conflict, suggesting Moscow send a delegation to the next Summit on Peace in Ukraine, which he plans to host in November, as reported by CNN. From a rational perspective, Ukraine's close communication with China and seeking China's support is a reasonable choice, Cui Heng, a researcher with School of Politics and International Relations of East China Normal University, told Global Times. "China has no direct interest in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and does not profit from it. Therefore, it is a trustworthy party," he added. As an influential major country, China can also set an example for other countries, encouraging the international community to actively participate and jointly strive to help resolve the crisis, said Jian Junbo, Deputy Director of the Center for China-Europe Relations at the Institute of International Studies of the Shanghai-based Fudan University. Sound bilateral ties During the meeting, Wang said China and Ukraine are friendly nations to each other, and their interactions over the years have been characterized by friendship and cooperation. He called on the two sides to maintain communication and exchange, enhance mutual trust, carry forward the traditional friendship, promote people-to-people relations and advance the sound and steady development of relations. China and Ukraine are not only strategic partners but also important economic and trade partners, Kuleba said, adding Ukraine supports China's position on the Taiwan question and will continue to adhere to the one-China policy. Ukraine was one of the first countries to support and participate in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to boost connectivity along and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes. China has been Ukraine's largest trading partner and the biggest export destination for Ukrainian agricultural products in recent years, Wang said. In the first half of this year, bilateral trade increased by 17.4 percent to about $4.5 billion, statistics from the General Administration of Customs showed. The two sides should leverage the role of bilateral cooperation mechanisms and strengthen practical cooperation in various fields, Wang said, adding that China will continue to expand grain imports from Ukraine and jointly maintain smooth logistics channels and international food security. Wang thanked Ukraine for assisting with the evacuation of Chinese citizens, especially students, in the early stage of the conflict, and expressed the hope that Ukraine will continue to take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and institutions in the country. Kuleba said Ukraine hopes to work with China to implement the important consensus reached between their heads of state, consolidate political mutual trust, activate cooperation across different fields including economy, trade and agriculture, and strengthen exchanges between the two countries' sister cities. From mediating the re-establishment of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran last year to the Beijing Declaration inked by 14 Palestinian factions on ending division and strengthening Palestinian unity on July 21, as well as Ukraine's recognition of China's efforts in promoting peace talks—it is evident that China's inclusive and comprehensive security concepts are being accepted by an increasing number of nations, Zhang concluded. BR (Print Edition Title: For Peace Only) Copyedited by G.P. Wilson Comments to mamm@cicgamericas.com |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|