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Chinese Diplomat: Beijing Wants Russia-Ukraine to Have Peace Talks. PHOTO/Reuters
BEIJING – China concerned about the escalation of the war in Ukraine . Beijing wants Moscow and Kiev to hold peace talks. This was revealed by a senior Chinese diplomat, Qin Gang, to his Ukrainian counterpart in a telephone call, Thursday (16/3/2023).
China, which has refrained from condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, has urged the two sides to agree to a gradual de-escalation leading to a comprehensive ceasefire in its 12-point paper on “political resolution of the Ukraine crisis”.
The plan, which received rave reviews from both sides, as it calls for the protection of civilians and mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty.
“China hopes that all parties will remain calm, rational and restrained, and resume peace talks as soon as possible,” Qin told Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement, as quoted by Reuters.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Vladimir Putin’s Russia as early as next week and hold a virtual meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Still, analysts say, it will be difficult for China to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table. But, some suggest Xi could act as a “backchannel” to start the momentum toward talks.
(esn)
