Xi’s three-day visit comes soon after a China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will arrive in Russia on Monday for a three-day state visit amid signs that Beijing is taking a more proactive role in resolving the war in Ukraine . The Kremlin said in a statement that during the visit, the two nations would discuss further development of their comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction. A number of important bilateral documents would also be signed, it said. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Xi’s trip was also to promote world peace. “We always believe that political dialogue is the only way to resolve conflicts and disputes. Showing swords, unilateral sanctions, and extreme pressure will only intensify contradictions and heighten tensions, which is not in line with the interests and expectations of most countries in the world,” Wang said. “China will uphold its objective and fair stance on international and regional hotspot issues such as the Ukraine crisis, and continue to play a constructive role in a political resolution to the crisis.” The announcement on Friday came a day after Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang spoke by phone with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, in which Qin called for peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv. According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Qin said China hoped that Ukraine and Russia would keep the door open for dialogue and negotiation, and not close the door to a political settlement. “China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting a ceasefire, easing the crisis, and restoring peace,” he added. The ministry also quoted Kuleba as saying that “China is not only an important partner for Ukraine but also an indispensable key power in international affairs”.
