China Says 'Rock Solid' Relations With Russia, Open To Resolving Ukraine Crisis

In spite of claiming to persuade Russia to end the war in Ukraine, China has not joined or hosted any peace talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin, (right) with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

(Photo: AP/PTI)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a statement on Monday, 6 March, that its friendly relations with Russia were still "rock solid" and that China was open to collaborating with the international community for mediating peace talks with Russia "when necessary," reported AFP.

Ukraine entered the 12th day of Russia's invasion on Monday with the latter's President Vladimir Putin warning to continue on the offensive until Kyiv lays down its arms.

Wang said at an annual press briefing,

"The friendship between the two people (China and Russia) is rock-solid, and both sides' future cooperation prospects are very vast."

He added that China would "work with the international community to carry out necessary mediation, when necessary." In spite of repeatedly claiming to play a "constructive role in calling for negotiations" to persuade Putin to stand down his troops in Ukraine, China has not yet joined or hosted any peace talks.

‘World's Most Crucial Bilateral Relationship'

The Foreign Minister called the China-Russia relationship "the world's most crucial bilateral relationship," which "is conducive to world peace, stability, and development.."

Last month, Beijing signed a "no limits" partnership with its close ally Moscow, which Wang referred to, on Monday, as a clear intention of both countries to "jointly oppose the revival of the Cold War mentality and stoking of ideological confrontations."

Wang promised that China would send humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

India Should Be 'Partners Rather Than Rivals': China

Wang said that friendly relations between China and India have experienced "some setbacks" as "some forces" have stoked hostilities between the two countries, in a veiled reference to the US.

In response to a question on resolving boundary issues between the neighbouring countries, Wang told PTI that China hoped to resolve disputes regarding the boundary issue through equal footing consultations for a "fair and equitable" settlement.

China and India should be "partners rather than rivals," said Wang.

He said,

"China and India relations have encountered some setbacks in recent years which do not serve the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two people."

"As regards the boundary question, it is left over from history. China has all along advocated managing differences through equal footing consultation and actively seeking a fair and equitable settlement and meanwhile not letting it affect or interfere with bigger picture of bilateral co-operation," he said.

(With inputs from AFP, PTI.)