China supports all efforts that are conducive to the peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis and appreciates the active role South Africa and other African countries have played in this regard, Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said on Tuesday.

Mao made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked how China views the efforts of a peace delegation of African leaders that visited Ukraine and Russia to help mediate the crisis.

The delegation, led by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, also involved leaders from Senegal, Zambia, the Comoros and Egypt, as well as top envoys from the Republic of Congo and Uganda.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had invited African states to participate in the Global Peace Summit during a meeting with the delegation last Friday.

During talks with the delegation last Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia values the balanced attitude of African countries to the situation in Ukraine and their desire to settle the crisis.

Mao said it fully reflects the common voice of the international community for a ceasefire and de-escalation of the crisis.

Facts tell that war and sanctions cannot solve the problem, Mao said, adding that dialogue and negotiations are the only viable way out for the Ukraine crisis.

China is willing to work with all parties, including African countries, to create favorable conditions for a political settlement of the crisis, she added.

In May, Li Hui, special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs, made a nearly two-week trip to Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany, Brussels and Russia, and met with leaders or top diplomats, exchanging views on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

(Cover, L-R: Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Senegalese President Macky Sall, Comorian President Azali Assoumani, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema hold a press conference after their talks in Kyiv, Ukraine, June 16, 2023. /CFP)

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