China willing to mediate in Ukraine crisis, says friendship with Russia ‘rock-solid’

Despite international condemnation of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Monday that the friendship between Beijing and Moscow was still very strong, and that China was willing to help mediate peace.

Throughout the crisis, Beijing has walked a diplomatic tightrope, refusing to condemn its close ally Moscow despite only a month ago touting a “no limits” strategic partnership between the two countries.

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“The two peoples’ friendship is rock-solid, and both sides’ future cooperation prospects are vast,” Wang said at an annual press conference.

He did say, however, that China was “willing to work with the international community to carry out necessary mediation, as needed.”

In an interview with Spanish daily El Mundo last week, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that China should mediate future peace talks between Russia and Ukraine because Western powers are incapable of doing so.

Beijing has stated numerous times that it will play a “constructive role in calling for negotiations” to resolve the crisis, but it has never committed to participating in or hosting any peace talks.

China will also send humanitarian aid to Ukraine, according to Wang.

He also called the Sino-Russian relationship “the world’s most important bilateral relationship,” one that “promotes global peace, stability, and development.”

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Last month’s partnership commitment, according to the foreign minister, “clearly and unmistakably demonstrated to the world” that both countries “jointly oppose the revival of the Cold War mentality and stoking ideological confrontations.”

Wang also warned the US and its Western allies that the informal alliance would “not brook interference by third parties,” a warning to the US and its Western allies who have lobbied China to play a more active role in mediating the conflict in recent days.