China to send special envoy to Ukraine

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke to Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky over the phone on Wednesday. The call was the first time the two leaders had talked since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

China has faced mounting criticism over its stance on the war, with Beijing’s assertion of neutrality failing to convince Western governments because of its disproportionate interaction with Moscow.

During the call, Xi pledged long-term cooperation with Ukraine, and said China will send its special envoy on Eurasian affairs to Ukraine and other countries.

The envoy, former vice-minister of foreign affairs Li Hui, would be the most senior Chinese official to set foot on Ukrainian soil since the war began. He was China’s ambassador to Russia for 10 years, from 2009 to 2019.

Xi also said mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity was the political foundation of bilateral relations.

He did not mention Russia by name at all, according to the CCTV report, though he reiterated China’s stance on the war and called for more dialogue.

Xi had held multiple calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin since the invasion, and even led a delegation to Moscow in March – his first overseas trip since beginning a historic third term.

The call also came just two weeks after French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited China and said they had urged Xi to call Zelensky.

Xi had replied that the conversation could happen when the conditions and time are right, according to von der Leyen.