(TheLibertyRevolution.com)- Last Tuesday, China’s leading diplomat made the country’s first official visit to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, CNN reported.
Wang Yi, who became Xi Jinping’s top foreign policy advisor in January, stopped in Moscow as part of an 8-day international tour that included stops in France, Germany, Hungary, and Italy.
While in Moscow, Wang met with Nikolai Patrushev, the head of Russia’s Security Council on Tuesday, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
On Wednesday, Wang met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
In a statement after the meeting, foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed the claims by Western media and politicians that Lavrov and Wang discussed a “Chinese peace plan,” Reuters reported.
According to Zakharova, Wang and his party “briefed” the foreign ministry on what China views as “the root causes” of the war in Ukraine, adding that there was no talk of a “separate plan.”
According to the Kremlin, it welcomed Bejing taking an active role in resolving the conflict and said it valued China’s “balanced approach.”
Wang’s visit to Moscow comes just days after US officials raised the alarm over China’s continuing partnership with Russia and the effect it could have on the ongoing war in Ukraine.
China has maintained a nuanced approach to the war in Ukraine, openly criticizing the West for imposing sanctions on Russia while avoiding endorsing Moscow’s actions.
Just days before the invasion of Ukraine, Russia and China signed a “no limits” partnership and have throughout the subsequent year held joint military exercises over the East China Sea, the Sea of Japan, and the Western Pacific.
Speaking at a Beijing security forum last Tuesday, China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang said Beijing would continue to call for peace talks while seeking to offer “Chinese wisdom” to help the two sides reach a political settlement to the conflict.
