Xi indirectly says no to China’s participation in Ukraine conference
Published: Monday, May 6th 2024, 22:20
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Chinese President Xi Jinping has indirectly said that China will probably not take part in the Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland in mid-June. This can be inferred from statements made by Xi during his visit to France.
In press statements following their meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron and Xi reaffirmed their positions on Ukraine without any discernible rapprochement. Xi showed no willingness to play a mediating role in the Ukraine war.
According to Macron, he was only willing to support his plan for an "Olympic peace" in all theaters of war during the Paris Summer Games. "Thank you for your commitment to calling on all parties involved to achieve Olympic peace," said Macron.
Xi also assured him that China remains committed to "not selling weapons to Moscow and to strictly control the export of dual-use goods". "We respect the historical ties between China and Russia," emphasized Macron.
For his part, Xi explained that China has always been committed to peace. "But we refuse to use this crisis to blame others, to damage their image and to instigate a new Cold War," he added, without specifying which country he was referring to.
China is in favour of organizing a peace conference "at an appropriate time" that is accepted by both Russia and Ukraine, Xi added. He thus indirectly stated that China would not take part in the peace conference for Ukraine planned for June in Switzerland.
At the beginning of the meeting with Xi, Macron had stated that coordination with China was "absolutely crucial" in view of the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. EU Commission President von der Leyen had expressed her "confidence" that China would use its influence to de-escalate Moscow in view of Russia's recent nuclear threats.
Russia not yet invited
With the Ukraine peace conference planned at Bürgenstock NW, Switzerland is pursuing the goal of developing a common understanding of a possible path to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) writes this on a website created especially for the conference.
Heads of state and government are to take part in the meeting. Switzerland has invited over 160 delegations, the FDFA wrote last week. Russia has not yet been invited.
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