BEIJING: Spain’s prime minister said Friday he had urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to speak with his Ukrainian counterpart as he visits China’s capital for talks to boost ties between Beijing and Madrid.
Speaking at a news conference at the Spanish embassy in Beijing, Pedro Sanchez said he had discussed “China’s position” on Russia’s war in Ukraine in meetings with Xi Jinping and other top Chinese officials.
He also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of seeking to “weaken” the European Union’s “multilateral project for peace and welfare”.
“I encouraged President Xi Jinping to have a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to learn first-hand regarding this peace plan of the Ukrainian government,” Pedro Sanchez said.
Zelensky has repeatedly said he would be open to talks with Xi Jinping — an overture the Chinese President has yet to respond to, despite multiple rounds of talks with Putin.
Last month, China unveiled a 12-point peace proposal calling for a “political settlement” of the Ukraine crisis.
The proposal was immediately met with scepticism from Ukraine’s allies, though Kyiv welcomed it.
Spain PM welcomes China’s stance
Sanchez on Friday also welcomed China’s stance opposing the use of nuclear weapons in the conflict and its stated support for “territorial integrity”.
“I want to acknowledge the valuable effort that the Chinese government has made to position itself,” Sanchez said.
