Envoy: Moscow, Kyiv believe in peace talks

There is a growing consensus among parties involved in the Ukraine conflict to resolve the crisis through negotiations, despite the bumpy road ahead, China's Special Envoy for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui said on Friday in Beijing.

Although different sides cling to their own positions and there are huge differences regarding their understanding of peace talks, they all agree that the conflict must be ended through negotiations rather than guns, Li said when briefing the media and foreign diplomats about his shuttle diplomacy on the Ukraine conflict.

Since the outbreak of the conflict more than two years ago, there have been no signs of a ceasefire, he said. There's a greater danger of the conflict escalating further, Li said, stressing the urgency and importance of pushing for an end to hostilities.

Li concluded a 11-day visit of Russia, the headquarters of the European Union, Poland, Ukraine, Germany and France earlier this month. It's the second time within a year that he has made such a trip.

Noting China's efforts have been recognized by various sides, Li said during his six-hour stay in Ukraine, Kyiv appreciated the balanced stance taken by China on the crisis. He said Ukrainian officials specifically rebutted false narratives that Beijing is deliberately putting distance in its relationship with Kyiv and stressed that the ties are not being influenced.

Various parties recognize the danger of the current situation continuing to deteriorate, and they agree with China's calls for easing the situation, and expect Beijing to play a greater and constructive role, the envoy said.

"They all believe that China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a common friend of Russia and Ukraine, could travel back and forth between the two countries as well as among different parties to deliver information and to clear things up," Li said.

He said China can push for different sides to see a common ground while reserving differences, and work in the same direction to create greater synergies, so as to create more favorable conditions for peace talks.

Speaking about an international peace conference being planned by Switzerland, Li said China wishes for a conference recognized by both Russia and Ukraine and which ensures equal participation of all parties.

China doesn't pick sides

In order to guarantee success of the conference and facilitate an early cease-fire, China proposed a series of suggestions, he said.

"What I want to stress is that we're not picking sides, our sole intention is to guarantee successful results coming out of this peace conference," Li said.

Since the peace conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in August, China has not participated in any follow-up meetings.

Conferences of this kind have failed to invite the two major stakeholders and what's been tabled is a proposal from only one side, he said. "These kind of conferences lack representation, and have failed to deliver concrete results, ... it will not play its due role in promoting peace."

Also on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said China welcomes Ukraine's decision to scrap the list of "International Sponsors of War" from the website of the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption.

Beijing had earlier expressed strong opposition to the listing of some Chinese companies by the agency, Lin said.

zhoujin@chinadaily.com.cn