Riyaz ul Khaliq
16 May 2025•Update: 16 May 2025
ISTANBUL
China on Friday renewed its support to direct negotiations and dialogue between Russia and Ukraine towards a political resolution as the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul hosted high-level talks between the parties, state media reported.
Beijing hopes “all relevant parties will remain committed to dialogue and negotiations, with the goal of reaching a fair, enduring and mutually acceptable peace agreement that leads to a political resolution of the Ukraine crisis,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters in the Chinese capital Beijing.
The statement from China came as Türkiye is hosting delegations from Russia and Ukraine, as well as the US, for talks to end the war between Moscow and Kyiv.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is hosting delegations in trilateral form, separately, with Russia, Ukraine, and the US, and later with officials from Moscow and Kyiv.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading the delegation from Washington.
Istanbul has drawn global attention as the city has seen an increase in diplomatic traffic in recent days, with hectic talks on ending the Russia-Ukraine war which is in its fourth year.
In Beijing, Lin said: “China's position on the Ukraine crisis has always been consistent and clear, and we support all efforts aimed at promoting peace.”
"We support direct negotiations and dialogue between Russia and Ukraine," Lin stressed.
