UNITED NATIONS, Sept 24 (Reuters) – China supports all efforts to bring about a peaceful resolution to the “crisis” in Ukraine, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, adding that the top priority was to facilitate the peace talks.
“The fundamental solution is to address the legitimate security concerns of all parties and build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture,” Wang Yi said in his speech.
A strategic partner of Russia, China has maintained its position in criticizing Western sanctions against Moscow, but Beijing has refrained from endorsing or assisting the Russian military campaign.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that he understood his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping’s concern over the situation in Ukraine, while praising the leader for his “balanced” stance on the conflict.
Wang Yi also said that Beijing would continue to work for a “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan and that China should fight “independence separatist activities” while taking strong measures to oppose any outside interference.
“Only by resolutely preventing separatist activities can we forge a true basis for peaceful reunification. Only when China is completely reunited can there be lasting peace in the Taiwan Strait.” “, said the head of Chinese diplomacy.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Friday that maintaining peace and stability in Taiwan, which China considers an integral part of its territory, was of vital importance. (Report Michelle Nichols, Daphne Psaledakis and Humeyra Pamuk, French version Matthieu Protard)