(ECNS) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Guangzho on Wednesday morning. “Recently, both Ukraine and Russia have expressed to varying degrees the willingness to negotiate. Although the conditions and timing are not yet ripe, we support all efforts conducive to peace and will continue to play a constructive role to enable a ceasefire and resume the peace talks,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning introduced the discussion on Wednesday at a regular press conference.
“Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted that China and Ukraine are friends to each other. Everything that stands out in bilateral exchanges is about friendship and cooperation. The two countries established a strategic partnership more than a decade ago, and have respected each other and treated each other as equals. Mutually beneficial cooperation has made steady headway. The presidents of our two countries stressed the importance to view and envision bilateral relations from a long-term perspective, and make sure that bilateral relations and cooperation will keep moving forward. We need to follow this guidance, maintain communication and exchanges, enhance mutual trust, carry forward our traditional friendship, promote the people-to-people bond, and achieve sound and steady growth of China-Ukraine relations,” Mao introduced.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China ushered in a new journey of comprehensively deepening reform, Mao said, adding that China’s all-round modernization endeavor will bring new opportunities to people from all countries.
“Ukraine is one of the first countries to support and participate in Belt and Road cooperation. In recent years, China has remained Ukraine’s largest trading partner and the largest exporter of agricultural products. In the first half of this year, our bilateral trade has shown a momentum of rapid growth, demonstrating the space and potential of bilateral cooperation. The two sides need to give full play to cooperation mechanisms between the two countries and enhance practical cooperation in various fields,” she introduced.
The spokesperson added that China will continue to increase food imports from Ukraine and work together to keep logistics corridors open and ensure global food security. Foreign Minister Wang thanked the Ukrainian side for the help it provided for the evacuation of Chinese nationals, especially the Chinese students in Ukraine, when the conflict broke out. He also expressed the hope that Ukraine will continue to work effectively to keep Chinese personnel and institutions safe in Ukraine.
Mao also introduced that the two foreign ministers exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis.
“Foreign Minister Wang noted that the Ukraine crisis has entered its third year, the conflict continues and there is the risk of escalation and spillover. China remains firmly committed to working for a political settlement of the crisis. President Xi Jinping laid out four principles which provide the fundamental guidance for seeking a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. On this basis, China and Brazil jointly issued six common understandings that include the three principles for deescalating the conflict, the three elements for peace talks and the three appeals on humanitarian protection. The common understandings also highlight the need to prevent nuclear risks and protect the stability of industrial and supply chains. The common understandings represent the broadest common ground of the international community and have been widely supported and endorsed. China believes that all conflicts ultimately have to be resolved at the negotiating table, and the solutions to any dispute can only be found through political means. China cares about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and will continue to provide humanitarian aid supplies,” she introduced.
“Foreign Minister Kuleba said that China is a great country. China and Ukraine are each other’s strategic partners and important economic and trade partners. Ukraine supports China’s position on the Taiwan question and will remain committed to one China. Ukraine hopes to work with China to implement the important common understandings between the two presidents, cement political mutual trust, activate cooperation in such areas as trade and agriculture, and strengthen subnational and sister-cities exchanges. Ukraine highly appreciates China’s active and constructive role to promote peace and uphold the international order. Ukraine attaches importance to China’s views, and has looked closely at the six common understandings issued by China and Brazil on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. Ukraine is willing and ready to have dialogue and negotiation with Russia. And of course, negotiations should be rational, substantive and aimed at achieving just and lasting peace,” Mao introduced.
The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern,she added.
