What's happened
China's special envoy for Ukraine, Li Hui, highlights a significant gap in peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba expresses trust in China-Ukraine relations. Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to meet French President Macron in Paris to rebuild relations with Europe.
Why it matters
China's mediation efforts in the Ukraine conflict are crucial in facilitating dialogue and potentially resolving the ongoing war. The trust between China and Ukraine indicates a positive step towards peaceful negotiations. President Xi Jinping's upcoming meeting with Macron signifies China's efforts to mend relations with Europe amidst the Ukraine crisis.
What the papers say
Al Jazeera reports Li Hui's acknowledgment of the gap in peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv, while South China Morning Post highlights Kuleba's positive remarks on China-Ukraine relations. Politico discusses Xi Jinping's upcoming meeting with Macron and China's attempts to persuade Europe regarding future peace talks involving Russia.
How we got here
China has positioned itself as a mediator in the Ukraine conflict, releasing a 12-point plan for a political settlement and engaging in multiple rounds of talks. Despite criticism for deepening ties with Russia post-invasion, China remains neutral and emphasizes the importance of resolving conflicts through negotiations. President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to Paris coincides with the 60th anniversary of Paris-Beijing diplomatic relations, aiming to rebuild relations with Europe.
More on these topics
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China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.
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Beijing, alternatively romanized as Peking, is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the world's most populous capital city, with over 21 million residents within an administrative area of 16,410.5 kmĀ².
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.