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China keen to ensure Saudi Arabia’s Ukraine peace talks do not become ‘anti-Russian’ event
- Beijing, which has published its own peace plan, remains close to Moscow and does not want to see it isolated internationally
- Russia has not been invited to the event in Jeddah, where Ukraine is expected to seek broader international support
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China is likely to work to ensure that a Saudi conference to discuss peace plans for Ukraine does not become an “anti-Russian” event, analysts said.
More than 30 countries have reportedly been invited to the two-day conference in Jeddah this weekend, where Ukraine is likely to seek more international support. Russia, which recently pulled out of a deal to protect Ukrainian grain exports, has not been invited.
However, China and a number of developing nations – including its Brics partners India, Brazil and South Africa – that are expected to be most affected by Russia’s actions are among those invited.
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Brazil, India, and South Africa have maintained a neutral stance during the war but remain close to Russia.
Beijing confirmed on Friday that it will send Li Hui, its special envoy for Eurasian affairs.
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Wang Yiwei, an international relations professor at Renmin University, said the attendance of Li, who went on a peace mission to Europe in May, indicated China’s dedication to finding a peaceful settlement.
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