Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin by phone Friday, expressing support for a negotiated resolution to the Ukraine crisis, according to Chinese state media reports.
Putin said that the U.S. and NATO have long ignored Russia’s reasonable security concerns over the military alliance’s eastward expansion, which has crossed a strategic red line for the country.
Still, the Russian president said Moscow is willing to launch high-level talks with the Ukrainian side, state media reported.
Xi reiterated China’s respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and for upholding the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.
“China is willing to work with all parties in the international community to advocate a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept and firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core,” Xi said during Friday’s call.
As the situation in Ukraine escalates, China has been arranging the evacuation of its citizens from Ukraine. The Chinese embassy in Kyiv issued a statement Friday telling Chinese nationals who wish to leave the country to register by Sunday for chartered flights.
There are 6,000 Chinese nationals in the country, mainly in the cities of Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Odessa and Sumy, according to a spokesperson from the embassy.
China is trying to strike a delicate balance over the Ukraine crisis as it seeks to maintain its relationship with Russia while facing pressures from the West. Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry, Thursday rejected a U.S. State Department suggestion that Beijing acted in “complicit support” of Russia’s Ukraine military operation.
China-Russia relations are based on the foundation of “non-alliance, non-confrontation and non-targeting of any third party,” Hua said.
“China’s position on the Ukraine issue is consistent,” said Wang Wenbin, a spokesman of the Foreign Ministry at a Friday briefing. “We call on all parties to exercise restraint and prevent further escalation of the situation.”
“Going forward, China will continue to make its own efforts to promote the political settlement of the Ukraine issue,” Wang said. “I believe we will make a fair judgment as to which approach is more conducive to the security, stability and lasting peace in Europe.” Wang said China will continue to promote peace talks and encourage all efforts for advancing a diplomatic settlement.
Contact reporter Lu Zhenhua (zhenhualu@caixin.com) and editor Michael Bellart (michaelbellart@caixin.com)
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