China offers to convene international conference to settle "Ukraine crisis"
Photo: open sources
China proposes an international peace conference recognized by Ukraine and Russia to resolve the " Ukraine crisis."
This conference would allow countries to openly express their positions and negotiate solutions to the conflicts. China is also willing to work with Russia to " develop new drivers of cooperation and strengthen friendship," according to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Rubryka reports.
"China supports the convening of an international peace conference, agreed upon by both Ukraine and Russia, in which all parties will participate on equal footing and have the opportunity to openly and honestly discuss all peaceful plans," Wang Yi stated during a press conference on the sidelines of the legislative session in China.
The minister recalled China's "12-point peace plan" released last year and the mission of China's government special envoy, Lee Huey, for "boat diplomacy" to facilitate the settlement in Ukraine. He also reiterated China's position on the swift cessation of hostilities and the return to diplomacy in the "Ukraine crisis" — the term Beijing uses to describe Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.
"All our efforts are aimed at achieving one goal — paving the way for the cessation of armed conflict and the start of peace negotiations," he said.
The top Chinese diplomat said his country would continue to play a constructive role in seeking a political settlement to the conflict.
"China is ready to work with Russia on developing new drivers of cooperation and strengthening friendship," the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi added.
China and Russia declared a partnership of "no limit" cooperation in February 2022 when Russian dictator Vladimir Putin visited Beijing just days before ordering the start of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
As previously reported by Rubryka, China's special envoy on Eurasia, Li Hui, arrived in Moscow on March 3, beginning his second trip to Europe to settle the war in Ukraine. He will also visit Ukraine, Poland, and Germany as part of the tour.
China's government special envoy on Eurasia, Li Hui, met with Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin in Moscow, where they discussed Russia's war against Ukraine.
Representatives of key directorates of the European External Action Service (EEAS) also exchanged views on Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine with China's special envoy.
Background
China's special envoy previously visited Kyiv and Moscow in May 2023 as part of a European tour to promote Beijing's plan to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian war. Li Hui, China's former ambassador to Russia, was announced as a special envoy during a phone call with Zelensky. He turned 70 this year. In the 1980s, he served in the Chinese embassy in the USSR and was an ambassador to Kazakhstan in the late 1990s. He also served as China's Deputy Foreign Minister and was the ambassador to Russia from 2009 to 2019. Li Hui speaks Russian fluently.
In May 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin even awarded Li Hui the "Order of Friendship" for "services in strengthening friendship and cooperation between peoples."
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously published the so-called "peace plan" with its ideas laid out in 12 points.
Zelensky does not consider China's proposals for settling the war in Ukraine as a peace plan but sees some positive aspects in them.
