Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, during a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmitry Kuleba, called the Kyiv And Moscow to resume peace talks “as soon as possible,” according to Beijing.

“China fears the crisis could escalate and spiral out of control,” Qin said, according to a statement released by his ministry.

China “hopes that all parties will remain calm, show restraint, resume peace talks as soon as possible, and return to the path of a political settlement.”

“We discussed the importance of the principle of territorial integrity,” Dmitry Kuleba wrote on Twitter.

This is the first official conversation between the two men since Qin Gang became foreign minister at the end of December.

Beijing peace plan

At the end of February, China already published a 12-point document calling on Moscow and Kyiv to start peace talks.

The text also opposes any use of nuclear weapons and calls for respect for the territorial integrity of all countries, alluding also to the integrity of Ukraine, part of whose territory is under Russian control.

Westerners accepted the Chinese document with reservations, since officially neutral China has never publicly condemned Russia.

Chinese diplomacy seeks to establish itself as a mediator in this conflict. However, a number of Western countries exclude it from this role due to its positioning as a close partner of Moscow.

China ‘will continue to play a constructive role’

Qin Gang today reaffirmed his support for China’s 12-point document, while saying that Beijing has so far “taken an objective and fair position on the Ukrainian issue.”

“China will continue to play a constructive role to achieve a ceasefire and hostilities, defuse the crisis and ensure a return to peace,” he stressed.

“We hope that Ukraine and Russia (…), despite the difficulties and challenges, will not close the door to a political settlement.”

China, which the United States recently accused of considering arms sales to Russia, vehemently denies such intentions.

^{Source: APE, AFP, Reuters.}