BEIJING – China is sending a special envoy to Ukraine and Russia starting next week in an effort to help reach a political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, its Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
Li Hui, who is China’s special representative for Eurasian affairs and a former ambassador to Moscow, will also visit Poland, France and Germany, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said according to AP.
China says it remains neutral over Russia´s war in Ukraine but has declared it has a “no limits” relationship with Moscow and blames the US and NATO for provoking the conflict.
Beijing has put forward a peace plan for Ukraine that has been largely dismissed by the country´s supporters, who say a resolution can only come when Russia ceases its attacks and withdraws its troops from Ukrainian territory.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month, setting the stage for the diplomatic push.
“The visit of the Chinese representative to relevant countries expresses China´s commitment to promoting peace and negotiations,” Wang said at a daily briefing Friday.
China wishes to prevent an “escalation of the situation,” Wang said.
