Confrontation between blocs resulting from the Ukraine crisis could become a bigger and more lasting threat to global peace than the crisis itself, China’s President Xi Jinping told his French counterpart on Tuesday, according to state media.
China has repeatedly urged European countries to exercise diplomatic autonomy instead of aligning with the United States in what Beijing says is a “cold war mentality”. China has refused to condemn Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, which Russia calls a “special military operation”
Speaking to French President Emmanuel Macron on the phone, Xi said that China felt Europe should have full control of European security, Chinese state television reported.
Xi also said he hopes France will play an active role in promoting China-EU ties as it holds the rotating presidency of the EU.
It was earlier reported that, President Xi Jinping held a video meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday and urged the German leader to work with China and other countries to prevent the Ukraine conflict from becoming an “unmanageable situation.”
“All efforts must be made to avoid the intensification and expansion of the Ukraine conflict, which could lead to an unmanageable situation,” Xi said in the video call, according to Chinese state radio.
In the meeting, Xi highlighted that the current international situation is continuing to change in a complex manner, and the difficulties and challenges to global security and development have increased significantly.
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The two leaders had an in-depth and frank exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine. Xi emphasized that both China and Germany have a lot of influence across the globe and, given the current situation, the two countries need to maintain healthy and stable relations with each other, as it will not only benefit the two nations but also contribute towards world peace and stability.
He said it is important to advocate for “genuine multilateralism, uphold international fairness and justice, and join hands to safeguard the key role that the United Nations plays in international affairs.”
