China’s Ukraine point man closes Middle East diplomacy trip marked by call to ‘cool down the situation’

Envoy who visited Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and UAE said to have encountered general agreement with Beijing’s push for restraint and direct dialogue

Trip could also have been meant to convey perspective of Russia, which has been excluded from most Western-led global gatherings, analyst says

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Li Hui, China’s special envoy for Eurasian affairs, served as the country’s ambassador to Russia from 2009 to 2019. Photo: Reuters

Published: 1:40am, 11 May 2024Updated: 3:31pm, 11 May 2024

China’s special envoy for Eurasian affairs completed a week of shuttle diplomacy across the Middle East, seeking to help “cool down” hostilities surrounding the Ukraine war and urging the protection of key infrastructure.

Li Hui met senior diplomats in Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the Chinese foreign ministry said, and discussed the conflict with officials from Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia and Kazakhstan too.

“The parties agreed to continue to maintain communication and coordination, while welcoming the support of the international community for efforts to cool down the situation and to play a constructive role in promoting a ceasefire, a halt to the fighting and the promotion of peace and negotiation,” the ministry said in a statement.

The trip took place as a global peace summit initiated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was announced for June 15 and 16 in Luzern, Switzerland.

China said it would consider taking part in the event. Its close ally Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022, was not invited.

During his meetings held from May 3 to 9, Li raised six propositions from China, and his counterparts “generally agreed” with them, according to the ministry statement.