중 "Next Month, Participation in Swiss 'Ukraine Peace Conference' Difficult"

"Agreed by Both Russia and Ukraine, but Difficult to Realize"

China announced on the 31st (local time) that it will not participate in the Ukraine International Peace Conference to be held in Switzerland next month.

In the early morning of January 31 (local time), police in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and war crimes investigators in the region examined the debris of a drone launched by Russia.
[Photo by AFP Yonhap News]

Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at a regular briefing that day, "The conference plan significantly differs from China's demands and the expectations of the international community."

Spokesperson Mao added, "China finds it difficult to participate and has already communicated its thoughts and concerns to the relevant parties."

China has maintained that the peace conference must meet three conditions: the consent of both Russia and Ukraine, equal participation of all parties involved, and fair discussion of all peace proposals.

According to China, considering the reactions of each party and the conference schedule, it seems difficult to realize these conditions.

Spokesperson Mao said, "We will continue to mediate and promote negotiations in our own way, maintain communication with all parties, and jointly create conditions for a political resolution to the Ukraine crisis."

China's announcement of non-participation came in response to questions about its stance on related reports by major foreign media.

Earlier, major foreign media, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that "Beijing (Chinese authorities) refused the invitation, stating that the participation conditions for this conference were not met."

The Ukraine Peace Conference is a meeting where representatives from countries around the world gather to discuss the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine. It will be held from the 15th to 16th of next month at the resort town of Burgenstock in the canton of Nidwalden, Switzerland.

Switzerland, a neutral country with extensive experience in conflict mediation, decided to host the conference in January this year at Ukraine's request.

So far, representatives from over 70 countries, mainly from Europe, have expressed their intention to attend, but Russia has stated it will not participate, claiming it was not invited to the event.

According to major foreign media, the United States has also expressed its intention to attend the conference, but China had not officially announced its attendance status until now.

Nevertheless, there have been observations that China is likely to abstain, given its recent strengthening of ties with Russia through summits and other meetings.

Meanwhile, on the 30th, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that "China can organize a peace conference involving both Russia and Ukraine," suggesting the possibility that China might convene a separate conference apart from the Ukraine Peace Conference held in Switzerland.