Zelenskyy appoints ambassador to China after phone talk with Xi
Observer Report Beijing
China will send a special representative to Ukraine, President Xi Jinping told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a first phone call on Wednesday since Russia launched war on Ukraine last year.
“China is consistent and clear-cut in its readiness to develop bilateral relations with Ukraine. Two sides need to carry forward the tradition of mutual respect and sincerity, and take the China-Ukraine strategic partnership forward,” Xi told Zelenskyy, according to China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.
Xi reiterated China’s position on the Ukraine crisis, saying, “China always stands on the side of peace.”
Beijing’s “core stance is to facilitate talks for peace,” said Xi.
“China did not create the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party to the crisis. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, China would not sit idly by, nor would it add oil to the fire, still less exploit the situation for self gains,” the Chinese president told Zelenskyy.
Emphasising dialogue and negotiation as “the only viable way forward, Xi said: “China will send the Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs to Ukraine and other countries to have in-depth communication with all parties on political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.”
“It is hoped that all parties would seriously reflect on the Ukraine crisis and jointly explore ways to bring lasting peace and stability to Europe through dialogue,” he added.
For his part, Zelenskyy said his phone call with Xi was “long and meaningful.”
“I had a long and meaningful telephone conversation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. I believe that the conversation, as well as the appointment of the Ambassador of Ukraine to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations,” Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter.
The two sides also exchanged views on China-Ukraine relations and the Ukraine crisis.
Xi commended President Zelenskyy for stating, on multiple occasions, the importance he attaches to developing the bilateral relationship and advancing cooperation with China, and thanked the Ukrainian side for its strong assistance to the evacuation of Chinese nationals last year.
Mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is the political foundation of China-Ukraine relations. The two sides need to look to the future, view and handle the bilateral relations from a long-term perspective, carry forward the tradition of mutual respect and sincerity, and take the China-Ukraine strategic partnership forward.
He noted his proposals of four points about what must be done, four things the international community must do together and three observations. On this basis, China released its Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis.
Everything China does is above board. Dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way forward. There is no winner in nuclear wars.
On the nuclear issue, all relevant parties must stay calm and exercise restraint, truly act in the interests of their own future and that of humanity, and jointly manage the crisis.
With rational thinking and voices now on the rise, it is important to seize the opportunity and build up favorable conditions for the political settlement of the crisis. It is hoped that all parties would seriously reflect on the Ukraine crisis and jointly explore ways to bring lasting peace and security to Europe through dialogue.
