Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) on Saturday called for a political solution for the Ukraine crisis to avoid confrontations, Xinhua news agency reported.
Efforts should be made to “ease the tense situation and avoid acceleration of confrontations and conflicts in an alternative way,” Xinhua quoted Xi as telling visiting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Xi’s comments come at a time of renewed concern over an escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. That could mean stronger economic sanctions against Russia from the EU and US — and harsher retaliation from Moscow.
Photo: Reuters
China is a key economic and political ally of Russia, and the two countries recently signed a US$400 billion gas supply deal.
The shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 on July 17 in eastern Ukraine — which killed all 298 people on board — showed that “it is important and imperative to properly address the Ukraine crisis,” Xi said, adding that efforts should be made to prevent the situation in Ukraine from developing into a humanitarian crisis.
All parties should work toward a political solution and “negotiate for a program that could take into consideration the interests of all parties in a balanced manner at an early date,” the Chinese president said.
Ban was quoted by Xinhua as saying a political solution, rather than the use of force, is the only way to resolve the issue.
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