China’s Envoy To Visit Ukraine For The First Time Since The Beginning Of The War
- 12.05.2023, 14:39
The diplomatic trip will begin on May 15.
China’s Special Representative of Eurasian Affairs Li Hui will visit Ukraine for the first time since Russia's invasion to “promote peace talks’, according to CNN.
Li’s trip will begin on May 15, and he will travel to Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany and Russia during the tour. He will discuss options for a political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.
“The visit of Chinese representatives to the countries concerned is another manifestation of China's commitment to persuade and promote talks, fully demonstrating that China is firmly on the side of peace,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said during a regular press briefing (quoted by CNN).
Li Hui's trip to Ukraine comes after Chinese President Xi Jinping had a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last month for the first time since the start of Russia's invasion. During this conversation, the Chinese leader promised that he would send a special representative of Beijing to Kyiv for consultations. Later, the Chinese Foreign Ministry named Li Hui as its authorized envoy.
The Chinese Special Representative was the Chinese Ambassador to Russia for ten years - 2009-2019. Before retiring, the TASS agency published his article, in which he stated that the years of work in Russia were the most memorable in his diplomatic career. Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded Li Hui with the Order of Friendship.
Beijing issued its 12-point peace plan on the anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine. They urged to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, abandon the Cold War way of thinking, end hostilities, resume peace talks and lift sanctions.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called the plan more of an expression of thoughts, moreover, he noted that the Chinese proposal does not contain a clause on the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory. Nevertheless, Zelensky emphasized a positive shift - China began to talk about the war.
Moscow welcomed China's plan. In particular, Vladimir Putin, at a meeting with Xi Jinping in March, said that Beijing's proposals could form the basis of a peaceful settlement.
Meanwhile, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borel warned EU foreign ministers that China could take advantage of the "geopolitical opportunity" in the event of Russia's defeat in the war against Ukraine. The EU "welcomes all the really positive steps taken by China to find a solution" Mr Borrell said.