Xi speaks with Zelensky

Xi Jinping has phone call with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, April 26 – On the afternoon of April 26, President Xi Jinping had a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at request. The two sides exchanged views on China-Ukraine relations and the Ukrainian crisis.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China-Uzbekistan relations have gone through 31 years of development and have reached the level of strategic partnership, which has provided assistance for the development and revitalization of the two countries. I appreciate President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's repeated emphasis on developing China-Uzbekistan relations and cooperation with China, and thank Uzbekistan for providing great assistance to the evacuation of Chinese citizens last year. Mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is the political basis of China-Uzbekistan relations. The two sides should focus on the future, persist in viewing and planning bilateral relations from a long-term perspective, continue the tradition of mutual respect and sincerity between the two sides, and promote the development of China-Uzbekistan strategic partnership. China's willingness to develop China-Uzbekistan relations is consistent and clear. No matter how the international situation changes, China is willing to work with Uzbekistan to advance the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the complicated evolution of the Ukraine crisis has had a major impact on the international situation. On the issue of the Ukrainian crisis, China has always stood on the side of peace, and its core position is to promote peace and talks. I successively put forward "four shoulds", "four commons" and "three points of thinking". On this basis, China also issued the document "China's Position on the Political Solution to the Ukraine Crisis". China is neither the maker nor the party involved in the Ukraine crisis. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, we will neither watch the fire from the other side, nor add fuel to the fire, let alone take advantage of the opportunity to profit. What China has done is aboveboard. Dialogue and negotiation is the only feasible way out. There are no winners in a nuclear war. When dealing with the nuclear issue, all parties concerned should remain calm and restrained, truly focus on the future and destiny of themselves and all mankind, and jointly manage and control the crisis. Now that rational thinking and voices from all parties are increasing, we should seize the opportunity to accumulate favorable conditions for the political settlement of the crisis. It is hoped that all parties will reflect deeply from the Ukrainian crisis and jointly seek a way to long-term peace and stability in Europe through dialogue. China will persist in persuading peace and promoting talks, and make its own efforts to stop the war and cease fire and restore peace as soon as possible. The Chinese side will send a special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs to visit Ukraine and other countries to conduct in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. China has provided several batches of humanitarian assistance to Uzbekistan and is willing to continue to provide assistance within its capacity.

Zelensky congratulated President Xi Jinping on his re-election and appreciated China's extraordinary achievements. He believed that under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China will successfully cope with various challenges and continue to move forward. China upholds the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations in international affairs and exerts a huge influence on the international stage. Uzbekistan abides by the one-China policy, and hopes to carry out comprehensive cooperation with China, open a new chapter in Uzbekistan-China relations, and work together to maintain world peace and stability. Zelensky introduced his views on the current crisis in Ukraine, thanked China for its humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, and welcomed China's important role in restoring peace and resolving the crisis through diplomatic means.