Premier calls for countries to deescalate tensions

Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday that the situation in Ukraine is indeed disconcerting and the top priority now is to prevent tensions from further escalating or even getting out of control. 

He made the remark during a news conference after the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress concluded in Beijing.

"We believe utmost efforts should be made to support Russia and Ukraine in carrying forward negotiations of ceasefire by overcoming difficulties in order to achieve peace," he said, adding that China supports and encourages all efforts in this regard.

Li said that China calls for restraint to prevent the occurrence of a massive humanitarian crisis. China has put forward an initiative about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and will continue to provide humanitarian assistance for the Ukrainian side, he said.

The premier said that while the world economy is already struggling amid the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, relevant sanctions will further hurt the world economic recovery and are not in any country's interest.

The premier stressed that China always follows the independent foreign policy of peace.

Regarding the situation in Ukraine, China maintains that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter should be observed, and the security concerns of all countries should also be taken seriously, he said.

"On this basis, China makes its own assessment and will work with the international community to play a positive role for an early return of peace," he said.