China’s top diplomat to state Beijing’s case in Moscow and Munich as Ukraine war drags into another year

Wang Yi to become the first senior Chinese official to attend Munich Security Conference in person since the pandemic
The trip to Russia is expected to pave the way for one by Xi Jinping

China-EU relations

Amber Wangin Beijing

Published: 10:00pm, 13 Feb, 2023

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China’s top diplomat Wang Yi will visit Russia and attend a major international security conference in Germany over the next week in the countdown to the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday that Wang, a state councillor and Politburo member, would attend the annual Munich Security Conference. He will be the first senior Chinese official to do so in person since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Wang would address the event and explain Beijing’s position on pressing international issues, ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said, adding the trip, from Tuesday to February 22, would take him to France, Italy and Hungary.

The spokesman said that while in Russia, Wang Yi would have in-depth exchanges of views with the Russian side on bilateral relations, and on international and regional issues of common concern.

“China is willing to take this visit as an opportunity to work with Russia to promote bilateral relations, continue to advance steadily along the direction set by the two heads of state, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of both sides, and play a positive role in world peace,” Wang Wenbin said.

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The trip to Russia is also expected to lay the groundwork for a visit by President Xi Jinping to the country, although Beijing has yet to confirm it will take place.

Quoting its foreign ministry, Russia’s official Tass news agency reported in January that Xi’s visit to Russia this spring would be a “main event” on the bilateral agenda.

China has been under criticism from the West for its refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly a year ago.

Just before the February 24 invasion, China and Russia hailed their “no limits” partnership – and the two countries have maintained their close relationship since then.

Yang Jin, a Russian affairs specialist at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Wang Yi’s Moscow trip would pave the way for Xi’s visit.

Yang also said the diplomat’s earlier stops in France, Italy and Hungary would be to convey China’s position on the war.

“[He will first] introduce China’s position to these countries, and have an understanding of each side’s stance on the conflict, and then go to Russia for communication and coordination,” he said.

“[China] hopes to help cool down the situation and [hopes Ukraine and Russia will] walk a peaceful path. This is our goal.”

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China’s position on the war – as well as other international security issues – would also be clarified at the Munich conference, Yang said, adding “it is important for big powers to coordinate their positions”.

The foreign the ministry said Wang Yi would deliver a speech to introduce Xi’s views on security issues and China’s positions on “major international issues”.

The three-day conference starts on Friday and among the international leaders attending will be US Vice-President Kamala Harris.

The White House said Harris’ presence would show “our enduring commitment to support Ukraine”.

The conference will take place amid the fallout from the US-China balloon saga, just the latest source of friction between the two geopolitical rivals.