Xi told Putin ‘majority supports easing tensions’ in Ukraine
Beijing, Mar 21 (EFE).- Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during their talks in Moscow that most countries support easing tensions concerning the war in Ukraine, China’s Foreign Ministry reported Tuesday.
Xi said during his Monday meeting with Putin that “there are constantly increasing rational and peaceful voices. Most countries support an easing of tensions.”
“They want peace and talks to be promoted, and they oppose adding fuel to the fire,” Xi said during the four and a half hours of conversation, the ministry said.
According to Xi, “historically, conflicts have always been resolved on the basis of dialogue and negotiation.”
The president also said China issued a position paper in which he called for “a political solution,” in addition to opposing unilateral sanctions.
“We believe that the more difficult it is, the more space should be left for peace. The more intricate the conflict, the more we must do to not abandon efforts for dialogue,” Xi said, according to the statement.
He added that China is willing to “continue to play a constructive role in promoting a political solution to the conflict.”
Xi arrived in Moscow Monday after restoring diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and he described his trip in the Russian newspaper Rossíiskaya Gazeta as a “visit of friendship, cooperation and peace.”
China was one of the countries that abstained from voting on a resolution condemning the Russian invasion in the United Nations General Assembly, and although it has not explicitly supported Moscow, it has opposed sanctions against Russia because “it does not solve problems.”
Xi is expected to hold talks after his visit to Russia with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
On the sidelines, Xi and Putin will sign agreements Tuesday in the Kremlin after the negotiations they will hold in the afternoon.
The Kremlin said the leaders plan to sign a dozen documents, including two statements on strengthening strategic cooperation and economic interaction plans until 2030.
Putin, who came to the Kremlin in 2000, and Xi have met about 40 times since the Chinese leader came to power in 2012. EFE
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