The foreign ministers of China and Ukraine on Wednesday exchanged views on the ongoing Ukraine crisis when they met in Guangzhou in south China.

China has always been committed to promoting a political solution to the crisis, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Noting that the Ukraine crisis is in its third year, Wang said there are risks of escalation and spillover in the ongoing conflict.

He said the four principles proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping are China's fundamental approach to finding a solution to the Ukraine crisis.

At a virtual summit with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in March 2022, Xi laid out the principles: China maintains that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected, the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter must be fully observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries must be taken seriously, and all efforts that are conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis must be supported.

Wang said on Wednesday that based on the principles, China and Brazil have jointly outlined six common understandings for a political resolution of the Ukraine crisis, comprising three principles for managing the conflict, three elements for a peace plan, three humanitarian concerns, as well as important measures to prevent nuclear risks and ensure the stability of industrial and supply chains.

He said the consensus has garnered widespread support and response from the international community.

The Chinese side believes that all conflicts will have to be resolved at the negotiating table and that all disputes should be resolved through political means, he said.

Wang noted that both Russia and Ukraine have recently, to varying degrees, signaled a willingness to negotiate.

"Although the conditions and timing are not yet ripe, we support all efforts that are conducive to peace and are ready to continue to play a constructive role in securing a ceasefire, promoting an end of hostilities and restarting peace talks," he said.

China is concerned about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and will continue to provide humanitarian material assistance to it, he added.

For his part, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Ukraine highly appreciates China's positive and constructive role in promoting peace and maintaining international order.

He said Ukraine attaches great importance to the views of the Chinese side and has carefully studied the six common understandings jointly outlined by China and Brazil for a political resolution of the Ukraine crisis.

The Ukrainian side is willing and ready to engage in dialogue and negotiations with the Russian side, Kuleba said.

"To be sure, the negotiations should be sensible and substantive, with the aim of achieving a just and lasting peace," said the Ukrainian foreign minister, who is on a four-day visit to China that began on Tuesday.

Sound China-Ukraine ties

During the talks, Wang said China and Ukraine should strengthen practical cooperation in various fields.

Noting that the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee has started a new round of deepening reform comprehensively, he said China's comprehensive promotion of Chinese modernization will bring new opportunities to people of all countries.

Ukraine was one of the first countries to support and participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, said Wang.

He said China has been Ukraine's largest trading partner and the biggest export destination for Ukrainian agricultural products in recent years. He added that in the first half of 2024, bilateral trade volume recorded a momentum of rapid growth, showing the space and potential of bilateral cooperation.

The two sides should capitalize on the role of bilateral cooperation mechanisms and strengthen practical cooperation in various fields, Wang said, adding that China will continue to expand grain imports from Ukraine and jointly maintain smooth logistics channels and international food security.

Wang thanked the Ukrainian side for its assistance in the evacuation of Chinese nationals, especially students, in the early stage of the conflict in Ukraine and expressed the hope that Ukraine will continue to take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and institutions in Ukraine.

Kuleba said China is a great country, and Ukraine and China are not only strategic partners but also important economic and trade partners.

He said the Ukrainian side supports China's position on the Taiwan question and will continue to adhere to the one-China policy.

The Ukrainian side hopes to jointly implement the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, consolidate political mutual trust, activate cooperation in various fields, including economy, trade and agriculture, and strengthen exchanges between the two countries' sister cities.

(With input from Xinhua)