Chinese Premier backs Russia on Crimea
March 15, 2015, 8:59 am

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang gives a press conference after the closing meeting of the third session of China’s 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2015 [Xinhua]

“We hope there will be a negotiated settlement of this issue through dialogue,” Premier Li Keqiang told an annual press conference after the conclusion of China’s annual parliamentary session.

Speaking for two hours before foreign and domestic media, Li said there were complex causes behind the issue of Crimea, and China hopes to see a political settlement through dialogue.

“We hope there will be harmonious coexistence between neighbors, and what we hope to see is that there will be the pursuit of common development and win-win outcomes between European countries and between all countries in the world,” he said.

“The Ukraine issue has added to the complexity of the geopolitical situation and has affected the process of the global economic recovery. We still hope that this issue can be resolved via dialogue, negotiations and consultations,” Li added.

“As for Crimea, there are complicated contributing factors. We also hope that it can be resolved politically via dialogue and hope that neighbors can peacefully coexist,” the Chinese Premier said in comments that were a strong public show of understanding from China for the Russian position.

Beijing has earlier stated its position on the crisis stating categorically that Western powers should take into consideration Russia’s legitimate security concerns over Ukraine.

Ukraine and Russia now share a land border of about 2,295 kilometers.

The Ukraine crisis is being fueled by games played by the US and the European Union, a Chinese diplomat said last month.

“The United States is unwilling to see its presence in any part of the world being weakened, but the fact is its resources are limited, and it will be to some extent a hard work to sustain its influence in external affairs, ” said Chinese envoy to Belgium Qu Xing.

China has, earlier, criticized Western sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine crisis.

The US is considering arming the Ukrainian military.

TBP and Agencies