April 18, 2024 (EIRNS)—In response to a question about what China expects of the peace conference scheduled for June in Switzerland, to which Russia is uninvited, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said during his April 17 briefing that President Xi Jinping had insisted during his April 16 meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that Beijing encourages and supports all efforts that are conducive to the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis and supports holding an international peace conference “that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine and ensures the equal participation of all parties and fair discussions on all peace plans,” reported [Global Times].
Lin did not say whether China would attend the conference, but the implication was clear. He added that China “will maintain close communication with all parties concerned, including Germany, on this matter,” according to the Global Times report.
Lin added, “We’ve learned that the relevant conference is still under preparation and a lot of work remains to be done. China is ready to maintain communication with relevant parties.”
