China will face pressure when Ukraine’s allies visit, analysts say

Name: Xi and Putin deepen China-Russia partnership in Moscow talks, but no Ukraine peace deal details
Uploaded: 2023-03-23T15:30:10.000Z
Duration: 3 min 41 s
Description: Xi and Putin deepen China-Russia partnership in Moscow talks, but no Ukraine peace deal details

Pedro Sánchez, Emmanuel Macron and other leaders expected to push Beijing to convince Moscow to withdraw troops

But it’s seen as unlikely to budge from its 12-point proposal that says talks are the only way towards peace

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Xi Jinping with Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Tuesday. It was the Chinese leader’s first trip to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. Photo: AP

Jack Lau

Published: 11:30pm, 23 Mar 2023Updated: 12:43am, 24 Mar 2023

Officials from Ukraine’s allies can be expected to urge Beijing to go beyond its 12-point peace plan and push Moscow to end the war when they visit China, according to analysts.

That would involve convincing President Vladimir Putin to withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine, but the analysts expect China to stick to its proposal that says talks are the only way towards peace.

The peace plan – released in February – gained Russian support on Tuesday in a joint statement signed by Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow. Western governments have criticised the proposal for its failure to condemn Russia and call for the unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops.

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Xi and Putin deepen China-Russia partnership in Moscow talks, but no Ukraine peace deal details

Ding Yifan, a senior fellow with the Taihe Institute in Beijing, said there was unlikely to be much agreement between Chinese and Western officials when they meet in China.

“The leaders will ask China not to support Russia in its war in Ukraine, and China will say that it is promoting peace and encouraging talks,” said Ding, previously an analyst with the Development Research Centre under the State Council.

China is set to host Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez next week on a state visit. Félix Bolaños, minister for the presidency, confirmed the plan in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser on Wednesday and said China had a key role to play as a mediator in the Ukraine war.

Sanchez’s trip has not been confirmed by China. Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters in Beijing on Thursday that he had no information to release about the trip and that the two sides “maintained good communication”.

In July, Spain will assume the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, the other legislative body of the EU besides the European Parliament.

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