President Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia is aimed at “peace” and China will maintain its “objective and impartial stance” on international and regional issues, including the crisis in Ukraine, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said on Friday, as quoted by CNN and News.ro .

“China’s proposal boils down to one sentence, which is to call for peace and promote negotiations,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at another press briefing on Friday.

Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia comes as Beijing tries to portray itself as a neutral peace broker in the war in Ukraine and tries to balance its “borderless” relationship with Moscow and increasingly fragile ties with the West.

Western officials have also expressed concern that China could consider providing lethal military aid to Russia, a charge Beijing denies.

CNN reported last month that the U.S. had information that the Chinese government was considering supplying drones and ammunition to Russia for use in the Ukraine war, and sources familiar with the information said negotiations between Russia and China over price and scope the use of the equipment is ongoing.

Defense ties between China and Russia have not changed since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, customs records analyzed by CNN also show.

At a briefing on Friday, Wang said China has always taken a “cautious and responsible” stance and has controlled exports of military and civilian dual-use products in accordance with the law.

According to him, economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia is “open and transparent”.

China again attacks the West through Ukraine

Without naming any specific country, Wang also appeared to criticize the United States, saying China opposes “unilateral sanctions and expanded jurisdiction without a basis in international law and without the authorization of the Security Council.”

He also accused some countries of “double standards” regarding arms sales, saying they were “adding gas to the fire” on the Ukrainian issue.

A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry in Beijing reiterated on Friday the position often expressed by Beijing, according to which relations between China and Russia are based on the principles of “non-alignment, non-conflict and non-touching of third parties”. party”.

Wang said Xi would discuss bilateral relations and “major international and regional issues” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as outline a new plan for relations between the two countries and deepening cooperation in various fields.

Last month, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a position paper on the war in Ukraine, calling for the resumption of peace talks, an end to unilateral sanctions and emphasizing Beijing’s rejection of the use of nuclear weapons – a position Xi Jinping has made public – o Western leaders in recent years.

But Beijing’s claims to neutrality have been seriously undermined by its refusal to acknowledge the nature of the conflict – it has so far avoided calling it an “invasion” – and its diplomatic and economic support for Moscow.

Wang said that the partnership between Russia and China “will benefit both the two peoples and the whole world,” which is “completely different from the approach of individual countries clinging to the Cold War mentality, uniting, entering into narrow circles and confrontation.” and impose their hegemony and intimidate others.”

Follow the latest events of the 387th day of the war in Ukraine LIVETEXT on HOTNEWS.RO.