China assures readiness for 'mutually beneficial' cooperation with Ukraine
Pavlo Riabikin and Liu Bin (mfa.gov.cn)
China has labeled Ukraine a "friendly country" and assured its readiness to engage in "mutually beneficial" cooperation with Kyiv, according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On October 8, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Bin met with Ukraine’s Ambassador to China, Pavlo Riabikin.
"Liu Bin said that China and Ukraine have traditionally been friendly countries. China is ready to work with Ukraine to support mutually beneficial cooperation in various sectors and promote the continuous development of China-Ukraine relations," the statement said.
For his part, Riabikin said that Ukraine places great importance on developing relations with China. Kyiv expressed its willingness to actively promote cooperation across all areas between the two countries.
According to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both sides also exchanged views on a political resolution to the "Ukrainian crisis" (China's term for Russia’s war against Ukraine).
China's stance on war in Ukraine
Since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, China has maintained a purportedly neutral stance on the war. Officially, Beijing does not support Russian military aggression and does not provide military aid. However, Chinese companies have been actively collaborating with Russia, supplying goods with dual-use capabilities.
China has also put forward its so-called peace plan regarding Ukraine, which has faced criticism from Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has remarked that alternative peace plans for Ukraine are merely political statements, labeling them as destructive.
