According to Chinese state media, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in conversation with his US colleague Joe Biden that nobody could have any interest in conflicts like the one in Ukraine. „We don’t want to see anything like the Ukraine crisis,“ Xi was quoted as saying. The US and China should accept their international responsibilities and work for peace in the world.
As permanent members of the UN Security Council and the world’s major economies, both countries should also „assume international responsibility and make efforts for peace and tranquility in the world,“ according to a report by state broadcaster CCTV.
The top priority must be to continue talks and avoid a humanitarian disaster, Xi said. The US side initially gave no information on the course of the call. The US government only announced that the video call lasted almost two hours.
Appeal to NATO
Xi said after the report that NATO should start talks with Russia to resolve the conflicts behind the war. The Chinese President was also willing to provide humanitarian aid.
Before the phone call, the United States had threatened China with consequences in the event of military aid to Russia. Biden will make it clear that China will bear responsibility for any measures that support Russian aggression, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday. The US would not hesitate to impose costs on China if necessary. China has a responsibility to exert its influence on Putin and to demand compliance with international rules.
