China not passive on Ukraine war: FM
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says that his country is not standing idle in regard to the Ukraine war and is trying to facilitate peace.
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia July 9, 2022 (Reuters)
Despite China not being a party to the Ukraine war, Beijing is not standing idle with regard to what is unfolding there, and it is facilitating the peace talks, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjart on Sunday.
"We have not stood by, nor will we add fuel to the fire. We have always unswervingly and perseveringly promoted peace talks," Wang told Szijjarto, as quoted by the Chinese foreign ministry. He also stressed that his country was not a party to the conflict in Ukraine.
Wang also highlighted that Beijing was engaging with the G20 to address the spillover effects of the Ukraine war that was experienced throughout the world rather than just in Europe.
China is putting forward initiatives to cope with food and energy security issues, Wang stressed, as various countries grapple with acute food crises brought upon solely by the Ukraine war and the sanctions preventing Russia from exporting key foodstuffs and agricultural items.
Countries struggling economically are threatened to fall short some 10 million tons in grain supplies from Russia in the upcoming season if trade barriers are upheld, Russian Union of Grain Exporters chair Eduard Zernin stressed in late May.
Various organizations and countries have been calling for curtailing the rising food prices and delivering crops to regions facing acute food crises as soon as possible.
Russia and Ukraine play a vast role in the international arena when it comes to wheat and grain exports. They account for an estimated 30% of global exports of wheat, 20% of maize, and 76% of sunflower.
Wang also said that all parties should draw lessons from the conflict in Ukraine and examine the feasibility of creating "a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture to achieve lasting peace and security."
