On February 7, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin announced that Beijing intends to promote a political solution to the crisis in Ukraine in its “own way.”
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| A scene of devastation caused by conflict in Izyum, Kharkiv region, Ukraine, February 20, 2023. (Source: AFP) |
In mid-January, Swiss President Viola Amherd said her Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky had asked Switzerland to host a peace summit on Ukraine. Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said last year that Kiev wanted to hold several summits to promote its “ peace formula.”
Speaking at a press conference, when asked whether China planned to attend the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland, Mr. Uong said: “We will continue to promote peace negotiations in our own way and promote a political solution to this crisis.” Mr. Uong emphasized that China will play a constructive role in this process.
In November 2022, President Zelensky announced a 10-point peace initiative known as the “peace formula” to end the conflict with Russia. However, in February 2023, Beijing released a 12-point document called “China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis,” which emphasized respect for the sovereignty of all countries, cessation of hostilities, and resumption of peace talks between Moscow and Kiev.
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said on February 7 that he hoped China would "lend a hand" to organize a peace conference in Ukraine. The statement was made after Bern agreed to host a global peace summit on Ukraine.
Ukraine says it has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to a planned “peace summit” of world leaders in Switzerland aimed at ending the conflict. At the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Switzerland has agreed to host the event, but the date and location have not yet been set.
China maintains close ties with Russia. Asked at a press conference in Beijing whether China would respond to the invitation to attend the summit, Foreign Minister Casis said: “This is a high-level meeting, we cannot expect an immediate answer. I am interested in getting help from China because China has an excellent relationship with Russia.”
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