© Reuters. Chinese President Xi Jinping gives a look during a joint press statement with French President Emmanuel Macron after the signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, April 6, 2023. (Reuters)/Gonzalo Fuentes
BEIJING (Reuters) – The European Union’s ambassador to China said on Tuesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was a very positive step, while urging greater efforts for peace.
Xi’s hour-long call with Zelensky for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine achieved one of Kiev’s long-standing goals, which it had publicly pursued for months.
“We would like China to go further and help more in reaching a just peace that includes the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine,” Jorge Toledo Albinana told a news conference in the Chinese capital.
State media reported that during their call, Xi informed Zelensky that China would send special representatives to Ukraine and hold talks with all parties seeking peace.
Albinana said expectations for more high-level dialogue this year include strategic talks between EU foreign policy coordinator Josep Borrell and Chinese Foreign Minister Chen Gang, as well as topics such as trade, economy, digital affairs and climate.
Albinana added that Borrell’s recent comments on the disputed Taiwan Strait were greatly exaggerated.
Borrell reportedly wrote in an opinion piece in the Journal du Dimanche that European navies should patrol the straits.
“I think what he said was grossly exaggerated,” Albinana said.
Borrell added in his article that Taiwan “interests us economically, commercially and technically.”
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