French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné urged on Monday China to send “very clear messages” to Russia about the war in Ukraine.
“We expect China to pass very clear messages to Russia,” declared the French minister at a press conference in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, advocating “a relationship of forces favorable to Ukraine.”
“China has a key role in independence, respect for international law, including the sovereignty of Ukraine,” Séjourné stated.
“We are convinced that there will be no lasting peace if it is not negotiated with the Ukrainians,” he added.
China, which presents itself as a neutral party but whose relationship with Russia has been strengthened since the beginning of the conflict, defends a political solution to end the fighting.
Western countries ask Beijing to take a more active role in the conflict and use its influence over Moscow.
“This war concerns the entire international community,” said the head of French diplomacy to his Chinese counterpart, who did not mention the conflict in Ukraine in his speech at the beginning of the press conference.
Séjourné’s visit is framed in the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and China.
It is the second time in less than six months that a French chancellor has traveled to the Asian giant, after the visit in November by Séjourné’s predecessor, Catherine Colonna.
President Emmanuel Macron visited China in April 2023.
Source: Gestion
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