China has always supported Russia and Ukraine to overcome difficulties and pursue negotiations, and welcomes all efforts by the international community to promote peace, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday.
Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks during a press briefing in response to a question about UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ recent visit to Russia and Ukraine.
“We welcome Mr. Guterres’ mediation efforts to ease tensions between Russia and Ukraine. China has always supported Russia and Ukraine to overcome difficulties and continue negotiations, and welcomes all efforts by international community to promote peace negotiations,” Zhao said.
According to him, in the present circumstances, the international community must insist on the maintenance of unity rather than division, democracy rather than hegemony, dialogue and consultation rather than unilateral sanctions, and objectivity rather than the bias.
“We should work together to promote an end to hostilities and achieve peace as soon as possible. China is ready to work with other parties to continue to play a constructive role in this regard,” he added.
In response to recent remarks by John Aquilino, commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, that cooperation between China and Russia is of concern, Zhao said that one of the successful experiences of China-Russia relations is that the two sides have moved beyond the Cold War model of military and political alliance.
The two sides have always been committed to developing a new type of international relations following the principle of non-alliance, non-confrontation and non-targeting of a third party, he added. “This is fundamentally different from the Cold War mentality of some countries that persist in forming small circles and pursuing the zero-sum game.”
“The United States has violated its commitment and has continuously encouraged NATO’s eastward expansion, and therefore bears an indisputable responsibility for the Ukraine crisis,” Zhao noted.
The United States also continued to provide funds and weapons to Ukraine, he said.
“The real goal of the United States is not peace, but to ensure that the conflict continues. As the United States itself has said, its goal is to weaken Russia,” he said. Mr. Zhao said.