Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Commenting on the Meeting of the Group of “Friends for Peace” on the Ukraine Crisis held recently, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday that the participants had called for efforts to de-escalate the situation, emphasizing the importance of non-expansion of the battlefield and non-intensification of fighting, supporting for a comprehensive and lasting settlement by the parties to the conflict through inclusive diplomacy and political means based on the UN Charter and international law.

When questioned about the Meeting of the Group of “Friends for Peace” on the Ukraine Crisis held recently, Mao said during a regular press briefing on Monday that the Group of Friends for Peace on the Ukraine Crisis had a meeting again in New York with representatives from 17 Global South countries, including China, Brazil, Algeria, South Africa and Turkey attending. 

The meeting held on December 18 at the level of the Permanent Representatives to the UN was the first gathering of the group following their Ministerial Meeting in New York on September 27, 2024, according to the press release of the meeting.

A press release, issued following the meeting, positively evaluated the ministerial meeting in September and the joint communique released, emphasizing that the communique issued upon the conclusion of the ministerial meeting was the first time that Global South countries voiced their concerns about the Ukraine crisis, Mao added.

Mao further briefed that the participants jointly reviewed the current situation of the conflict in Ukraine and the potential risks of its recent escalation. They expressed concerns at the ongoing hostilities and recalled the need to observe principles for de-escalation.

The participants reaffirmed the key principles outlined in the joint communique, including respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, respecting the legitimate concerns of states, recognizing the need to uphold the principles of peace, security and prosperity, and the importance of peaceful solutions for all international conflicts.

The participants called for efforts to de-escalate the situation, emphasizing the importance of non-expansion of the battlefield and non-intensification of fighting. They expressed support for achieving a comprehensive and lasting political peaceful solution that can bring this conflict to an end through diplomatic means based on the UN Charter and international law, and encouraged countries from the Global South to play a constructive role for this.

China stands ready to work with other members of the group to make positive effort for an early realization of peace, Mao said.

Global Times