1st LD Writethru: China pledges active, constructive role in solving Ukraine crisis

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko here on Wednesday that Beijing stands for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis and will continue to play an active and constructive role in such efforts.

China adheres to an objective and just stand on the Ukraine issue, said Li when meeting with the Ukrainian leader on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in the Swiss ski resort.

It is the common aspiration of people across the world for peace while against war, for development while against poverty, and for cooperation while against confrontation, he said.

As the international situation is experiencing profound changes, said the Chinese premier, the international system and order are going through deep adjustment.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and Ukraine have respected and treated each other equally, and their cooperation has achieved fruitful results, said Li.

China will always respect the national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine and support the Eastern European nation to adopt a path of development in accordance with its national conditions, he added.

China, he said, will continue to carry out pragmatic cooperation with the Ukrainian side on the basis of win-win and mutual benefit.

For his part, Poroshenko said his government attaches great importance to its relations with China and is willing to maintain cooperation with the Asian country.

The Ukrainian side, he said, hopes that China would play a more active role in the political settlement of the Ukraine issue.

Li arrived here on Tuesday for the WEF annual meeting in Davos and a working visit to Switzerland. Endi