China says Jeddah talks on Ukraine helped to 'consolidate international consensus'
More than 40 countries, including China, India, the US, and European countries, took part in the Jeddah talks that ended on Aug 6.
PHOTO: REUTERS
BEIJING - China’s foreign ministry said on Monday that international talks in Saudi Arabia at the weekend on finding a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine crisis had helped “to consolidate international consensus”.
More than 40 countries, including China, India, the United States, and European countries, but not Russia, took part in the Jeddah talks that ended on Sunday.
China sent its Special Envoy for Eurasian Affairs and former ambassador to Russia, Mr Li Hui, who in May toured six European capitals to find common ground for an eventual political settlement of the conflict, now in its 18th month.
Mr Li “had extensive contact and communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis... listened to all sides’ opinions and proposals, and further consolidated international consensus”, the foreign ministry said in a written statement to Reuters.
“All parties positively commented on Li Hui’s attendance, and fully backed China’s positive role in facilitating peace talks,” the statement said.
China will continue to strengthen dialogue based on its 12-point peace proposal, and “accumulate mutual trust”, it said, without going into specific details.
China’s attendance signals possible shifts in Beijing’s approach but not a U-turn in its support for Moscow, analysts said.
Beijing has refused to condemn Moscow for the invasion it launched in February 2022. But it has offered its own peace plan, which received a lukewarm response in both Russia and Ukraine while the United States and Nato were sceptical.
Eighteen months after Russia invaded Ukraine, any prospect of direct peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow appears remote as fighting rages along the front line.
The two-day meeting in Jeddah was part of a diplomatic push by Ukraine to build support beyond its core Western backers by reaching out to Global South countries that have been reluctant to take sides in a conflict that has hit the global economy.
A senior Ukrainian official said on Sunday that talks in Saudi Arabia had been productive, but Moscow called the meeting a doomed attempt to swing the Global South behind Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s head of staff Andriy Yermak said in a statement: “We had very productive consultations on the key principles on which a just and lasting peace should be built.”
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted by state media on Sunday as saying the meeting was “a reflection of the West’s attempt to continue futile, doomed efforts” to mobilise the Global South behind Mr Zelensky’s position.
Saudi Arabia’s Media Ministry said participants had agreed on the importance of continuing consultations to pave the way for peace.
European officials have said participants planned to establish working groups to address specific problems raised by the war.
BEIJING - China’s foreign ministry said on Monday that international talks in Saudi Arabia at the weekend on finding a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine crisis had helped “to consolidate international consensus”.
More than 40 countries, including China, India, the United States, and European countries, but not Russia, took part in the Jeddah talks that ended on Sunday.
China sent its Special Envoy for Eurasian Affairs and former ambassador to Russia, Mr Li Hui, who in May toured six European capitals to find common ground for an eventual political settlement of the conflict, now in its 18th month.
Mr Li “had extensive contact and communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis... listened to all sides’ opinions and proposals, and further consolidated international consensus”, the foreign ministry said in a written statement to Reuters.
“All parties positively commented on Li Hui’s attendance, and fully backed China’s positive role in facilitating peace talks,” the statement said.
China will continue to strengthen dialogue based on its 12-point peace proposal, and “accumulate mutual trust”, it said, without going into specific details.
China’s attendance signals possible shifts in Beijing’s approach but not a U-turn in its support for Moscow, analysts said.
Beijing has refused to condemn Moscow for the invasion it launched in February 2022. But it has offered its own peace plan, which received a lukewarm response in both Russia and Ukraine while the United States and Nato were sceptical.
Eighteen months after Russia invaded Ukraine, any prospect of direct peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow appears remote as fighting rages along the front line.
The two-day meeting in Jeddah was part of a diplomatic push by Ukraine to build support beyond its core Western backers by reaching out to Global South countries that have been reluctant to take sides in a conflict that has hit the global economy.
A senior Ukrainian official said on Sunday that talks in Saudi Arabia had been productive, but Moscow called the meeting a doomed attempt to swing the Global South behind Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s head of staff Andriy Yermak said in a statement: “We had very productive consultations on the key principles on which a just and lasting peace should be built.”
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted by state media on Sunday as saying the meeting was “a reflection of the West’s attempt to continue futile, doomed efforts” to mobilise the Global South behind Mr Zelensky’s position.
Saudi Arabia’s Media Ministry said participants had agreed on the importance of continuing consultations to pave the way for peace.
European officials have said participants planned to establish working groups to address specific problems raised by the war.
REUTERS
Saudi Crown Prince receiving the Ukrainian President on the sidelines of the Arab Summit in Jeddah last May (SPA)
Jeddah : Abdulhadi Habtor
6 August 2023
AD ـ 20 Muharram 1445 AH
Today marks the commencement of a significant gathering in the city of Jeddah, situated in the western region of Saudi Arabia. National security advisors and representatives from approximately 40 nations convene to address the enduring Ukrainian crisis, which unfolded nearly 18 months ago.
The objective of this assembly is to foster a breakthrough and cultivate a cohesive vision towards the attainment of lasting peace.
Analysts who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat anticipated that participants will arrive at a crucial roadmap that crystallizes all the initiatives put forth to resolve the far-reaching Ukrainian crisis, whose repercussions have reverberated across the entire globe.
Characterizing the meeting as akin to “casting a stone into still waters,” analysts said the gathering signifies potential to disrupt the stagnant status quo.
The convening of this meeting and the broad international participation in it, held in the city of Jeddah, are believed by analysts to underscore Saudi Arabia’s influential and active role on the global stage.
The Kingdom is regarded as a “balance beam” between the East and West, owing to its balanced relationships and distinctiveness with all parties.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Asaf, a media professor at King Saud University, affirmed that the participation of national security advisors from around 40 countries in the Jeddah meeting signifies that “global security is unsettled, and the participants are striving for world stability, the restoration of security to its markets and sustenance, and security in a general sense.”
“We mustn't overly indulge in optimism, but this meeting is akin to casting a stone into stagnant waters,” Al-Asaf told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“It is an extension of the efforts of the Saudi Crown Prince, who presented his initiative at the onset of the crisis in February 2022 and offered his mediation to both sides, garnering acceptance from all parties,” he explained.
“Saudi Arabia today is a strong and active player on the international stage in diplomatic affairs, drawing upon extensive expertise,” he added.
The media professor also believes that “Saudi Arabia now stands at a neutral starting point with everyone, and it is the optimal mediator at this stage.”
Al-Asaf anticipates that “the meeting will yield a highly significant roadmap for peace, which will later be conveyed to Russia.”
Seasoned US statesman Henry Kissinger remarked in May of the previous year that peace negotiations in Ukraine could potentially materialize later in 2023, indicating that China's involvement in the process could bolster peace talks.
Today marks the commencement of a significant gathering in the city of Jeddah, situated in the western region of Saudi Arabia. National security advisors and representatives from approximately 40 nations convene to address the enduring Ukrainian crisis, which unfolded nearly 18 months ago.
The objective of this assembly is to foster a breakthrough and cultivate a cohesive vision towards the attainment of lasting peace.
Analysts who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat anticipated that participants will arrive at a crucial roadmap that crystallizes all the initiatives put forth to resolve the far-reaching Ukrainian crisis, whose repercussions have reverberated across the entire globe.
Characterizing the meeting as akin to “casting a stone into still waters,” analysts said the gathering signifies potential to disrupt the stagnant status quo.
The convening of this meeting and the broad international participation in it, held in the city of Jeddah, are believed by analysts to underscore Saudi Arabia’s influential and active role on the global stage.
The Kingdom is regarded as a “balance beam” between the East and West, owing to its balanced relationships and distinctiveness with all parties.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Asaf, a media professor at King Saud University, affirmed that the participation of national security advisors from around 40 countries in the Jeddah meeting signifies that “global security is unsettled, and the participants are striving for world stability, the restoration of security to its markets and sustenance, and security in a general sense.”
“We mustn't overly indulge in optimism, but this meeting is akin to casting a stone into stagnant waters,” Al-Asaf told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“It is an extension of the efforts of the Saudi Crown Prince, who presented his initiative at the onset of the crisis in February 2022 and offered his mediation to both sides, garnering acceptance from all parties,” he explained.
“Saudi Arabia today is a strong and active player on the international stage in diplomatic affairs, drawing upon extensive expertise,” he added.
The media professor also believes that “Saudi Arabia now stands at a neutral starting point with everyone, and it is the optimal mediator at this stage.”
Al-Asaf anticipates that “the meeting will yield a highly significant roadmap for peace, which will later be conveyed to Russia.”
Seasoned US statesman Henry Kissinger remarked in May of the previous year that peace negotiations in Ukraine could potentially materialize later in 2023, indicating that China's involvement in the process could bolster peace talks.
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