Xi calls for ‘maximum restraint’ in Ukraine
Shanghai, China, March 8 (EFE).- China’s President Xi Jinping called for “maximum restraint” to prevent a large-scale humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, Chinese state media reported on Tuesday.
Speaking at a virtual summit with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Xi described the situation unfolding in Ukraine as “worrying” and said that the priority was to deter it from “spinning out of control,” state broadcaster CCTV reported.
“China is pained to see the flames of war reignited in Europe,” Xi said.
The Chinese president added that his nation, France and Germany should support peace efforts between Russia and Ukraine through negotiations in what Xi described as Europe’s most serious crisis since World War II.
According to CCTV, the German and French leaders said they were willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China.
Xi expressed his opposition to the flurry of international sanctions targeting Russia and said they would weigh on global stability in finance, energy, transport and supply chains.
The president called for “the security concerns of all countries be taken seriously.”
China, a traditional ally of Moscow, has refused to describe the military operation in Ukraine as an invasion and has abstained from denouncing Russia at the United Nations. EFE
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