Politics

Australia tells China ‘to do the right thing’ not sell Russia weapons

Sydney, Australia, Mar 3 (EFE).- Australia asked China to use its leadership in a “responsible” way to put an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in addition to urging it to “do the right thing” and not consider providing arms to Russia, the country’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.

She made the remarks in India after a bilateral meeting with China’s new Foreign Minister Qin Gang, which was held on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi, according to a Friday transcript by her press office.

“(Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy has said he wants to believe China will do the right thing and not supply Russia with weapons. That is not just Australia’s call, but all countries’ call,” Wong said.

The minister, who is in full swing to normalize bilateral relations with Beijing, which had been frozen in 2018 for various issues, said “the world expects responsible leadership from China with regard to Ukraine, especially taking into account its close relationship with Russia.”

However, she said the end of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, 2022, “lies at the feet of Russia.”

Wong did not directly allude to the accusations made by the United States State Secretary Antony Blinken, who said last month his country is concerned China “is considering providing lethal support” to Russia, a fear shared by the European Union, but which Beijing denies.

The war in Ukraine is one of the critical issues at the G20 meeting, which brings together the world’s greatest powers and is currently divided by the divergent positions between Washington and its allies on the one hand, and Moscow, which has the support of China, when it comes to reaching agreements on this conflict. EFE

wat/lds

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