JK News Today Special
Chinese President Xi Jinping had a telephonic conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which he promised to work for the peaceful settlement of the crisis in the region, ending much of the speculation as to when will China talk to Ukrainian president.
The speculations about his call had become intense following his visit to Moscow on March 20, during which he had reiterated Beijing’s friendship with the Russian president Vladimir Putin. There were international voices, asking why Jinping had not called Ukrainian president.
With this call on Wednesday, it is expected that China will play a more active role in dousing flames of the war engulfing Europe. The Ukrainian conflict as hit the world quite hard, disrupted supply chains, and caused huge fuel and food crises. No country in the world has been left unaffected by the turmoil that started with the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. China has avoided calling it as an invasion or war, and it has also opposed the UN resolutions against Russia since then. It has blamed, more on the lines of the Russian articulation, that the US is responsible for the crisis.
In his telephonic conversation with Zelensky on Wednesday, Chinese President said “Now that rational l thinking and voices from all parties are increasing, we should seize the opportunity to accumulate favorable conditions for the political settlement of the crisis. It is hoped that all parties will reflect deeply from the Ukrainian crisis and jointly seek a way to long-term peace and stability in Europe through dialogue. China will persist in persuading peace and promoting talks, and make its own efforts to stop the war and cease fire and restore peace as soon as possible. The Chinese side will send a special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs to visit Ukraine and other countries to conduct in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. China has provided several batches of humanitarian assistance to Uzbekistan and is willing to continue to provide assistance within its capacity.”
These are important commitments against the backdrop of China’s increasing role in the diplomatic world, where it has already crowned itself with the successful brokering of peace between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Ukraine crisis has been plaguing the world, and now it is believed that without China’s active role, the conflict cannot be resolved. First, it has strong ties with Moscow, and secondly, it is acknowledged as the rising super power with lot of military, economic, diplomatic and political influence
Next few days would be watched very keenly as to how China follows up on the observations and commitments made by President Xi Jinping.
We reproduce the whole readout of the telephonic conversation of Xi Jinping and Zelensky, as published by Chinese Foreign Ministry website.
“On the afternoon of April 26, 2023, President Xi Jinping had a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at request. The two sides exchanged views on China-Ukraine relations and the Ukrainian crisis.
Xi Jinping pointed out that China-Ukrainian relations have gone through 31 years of development and have reached the level of strategic partnership, which has provided assistance for the respective development and revitalization of the two countries. I appreciate President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s repeated emphasis on developing China-Ukrainian relations and cooperation with China, and thank Ukraine for providing great assistance to the evacuation of Chinese citizens last year. Mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is the political basis of China-Ukrainian relations. The two sides should focus on the future, persist in viewing and planning bilateral relations from a long-term perspective, continue the tradition of mutual respect and sincerity between the two sides, and promote the development of China-Ukrainian strategic partnership. China’s willingness to develop China-Ukrainian relations is consistent and clear. No matter how the international situation changes, China is willing to work with Ukraine to advance the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
Xi Jinping pointed out that the complex evolution of the Ukraine crisis has had a major impact on the international situation. On the issue of the Ukrainian crisis, China has always stood on the side of peace, and its core position is to promote peace and talks. I successively put forward “four should”, “four commons” and “three points of thinking”. On this basis, China also issued the document “China’s Position on the Political Solution to the Ukraine Crisis”. China is neither the maker nor the party involved in the Ukraine crisis. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, we will neither watch the fire from the other side, nor add fuel to the fire, let alone take advantage of the opportunity to profit. What China has done is above board. Dialogue and negotiation is the only feasible way out. There are no winners in a nuclear war. When dealing with the nuclear issue, all parties concerned should remain calm and restrained, truly focus on the future and destiny of themselves and all mankind, and jointly manage and control the crisis. Now that rational thinking and voices from all parties are increasing, we should seize the opportunity to accumulate favorable conditions for the political settlement of the crisis. It is hoped that all parties will reflect deeply from the Ukrainian crisis and jointly seek a way to long-term peace and stability in Europe through dialogue. China will persist in persuading peace and promoting talks, and make its own efforts to stop the war and cease fire and restore peace as soon as possible. The Chinese side will send a special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs to visit Ukraine and other countries to conduct in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. China has provided several batches of humanitarian assistance to Uzbekistan and is willing to continue to provide assistance within its capacity.
Zelensky congratulated President Xi Jinping on his re-election and appreciated China’s extraordinary achievements. He believed that under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China will successfully cope with various challenges and continue to develop. China upholds the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations in international affairs and exerts a huge influence on the international stage. Uzbekistan abides by the One-China policy, and hopes to carry out comprehensive cooperation with China, open a new chapter in Uzbekistan-China relations, and work together to maintain world peace and stability. Zelensky introduced his views on the current crisis in Ukraine, thanked China for its humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, and welcomed China’s important role in restoring peace and resolving the crisis through diplomatic means.”
