China doesn’t want ‘prolonged’ Ukraine war, top diplomat Wang Yi says as crisis nears 1-year mark

In meeting with Ukrainian foreign minister, he says Beijing will work with international community to ’persistently strive for peace’

As the next stop on his European tour, Wang is expected to visit Russia later this week

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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba (left) shakes hands with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. Photo: Xinhua

Laura Zhou

Published: 3:00pm, 20 Feb 2023Updated: 4:39pm, 20 Feb 2023

Beijing does not wish to see any escalation in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, China’s top diplomat said as the war approaches the one-year mark.

“China has always stood on the side of peace and dialogue, and has always insisted on urging peace and promoting talks,” State Councillor Wang Yi told Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Sunday.

“We do not want to see the crisis in Ukraine prolonged and expanded, and are willing to work with the international community to avoid further deterioration of the situation and persistently strive for peace,” said Wang, who is also director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission.

According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Kuleba said Ukraine valued China’s international status and influence as well as its position on the political settlement of the crisis and expected Beijing to “continue to play a constructive role”.

On Twitter, Kuleba said Wang “reaffirmed China’s respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its rejection of the use of force as a means of resolving differences”.

The meeting was held as China, newly emerged from three years of Covid-19 controls, ramps up efforts to restore ties with Europe that have frayed because of Beijing’s support of Moscow.

03:02

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As the next stop on his European tour, Wang is expected to visit Russia on Wednesday – just two days before the one-year anniversary of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

China doesn’t want ‘prolonged’ Ukraine war, top diplomat Wang Yi says as crisis nears 1-year mark

In meeting with Ukrainian foreign minister, he says Beijing will work with international community to ’persistently strive for peace’ As the next stop on his European tour, Wang is expected to visit Russia later this week

In meeting with Ukrainian foreign minister, he says Beijing will work with international community to ’persistently strive for peace’

As the next stop on his European tour, Wang is expected to visit Russia later this week