China calls for ‘strategic consensus’ with EU on Ukraine ceasefire, peace talks

Top diplomat Wang Yi tells his French counterpart that political settlement of the conflict is the ‘right direction’

Emmanuel Bonne says France is willing to work with China to find ‘peaceful solution’, according to Chinese readout

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China’s top diplomat Wang Yi urged European countries to “play their due role” to promote peace and talks. Photo: Pool via Reuters

Published: 11:15pm, 24 Mar 2023Updated: 12:02am, 25 Mar 2023

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi called on the European Union to reach a “strategic consensus” with Beijing on political settlement of the Ukraine war in talks with his French counterpart on Thursday.

The phone call, requested by French President Emmanuel Macron’s diplomatic adviser Emmanuel Bonne, followed the Chinese leader’s trip to Russia this week. Wang told Bonne during the call that President Xi Jinping’s Moscow visit was for “peace” and “cooperation”, according to the Chinese foreign ministry readout.

Wang also reiterated that political settlement of the Ukraine conflict was the “right direction” and urged EU countries to “play their due role”.

“On the Ukraine issue, China continues to uphold its basic position of promoting peace and talks,” Wang said.

“China expects France and other European countries to also play their due role in this regard. Ceasefire, resumption of peace talks and political settlement of the crisis should become the strategic consensus between China and the EU.”

French President Emmanuel Macron (left) and his diplomatic adviser Emmanuel Bonne attend an online meeting with G7 leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Bonne told Wang that France supported resolving the conflict through political negotiations and was willing to work with China to look for a “peaceful solution”, according to the Chinese readout.