Dialogue necessary to settle Ukraine conflict - S. African, Chinese presidents
MADRID. Aug 22 (Interfax) - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping underlined the need for Russia-Ukraine dialogue for the sake of ending the conflict at a meeting in Pretoria on Tuesday.
"President Xi Jinping and I discussed the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and its significant impact on developing economies in Africa and elsewhere. We both agreed on importance of dialogue and negotiation between the two sides," the EFE agency quoted Ramaphosa as saying at a joint press conference with Xi.
"As South Africa we are encouraged that President Xi Jinping has welcomed the peace mission to Russia and Ukraine initiated by African leaders," he said.
The EFE agency noted that that the African plan envisages a peaceful settlement of the conflict, negotiations, de-escalation efforts by both sides, recognition of both countries' sovereignty consistent with the UN Charter, security guarantees for both sides, unhampered grain and fertilizer exports by both countries, and humanitarian assistance for victims of the conflict.
A delegation of several African leaders visited Kiev on June 16 for negotiations with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. Later, the delegation arrived in Russia and discussed the Ukraine crisis with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting was held at the Konstantin Palace in Strelnya and lasted for almost three hours.
An African delegation discussed settling the Ukraine conflict with Putin on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg at the end of July.
President of the Union of Comoros, African Union Chairman Azali Assoumani said at the Russia-Africa summit on July 27 that the African Union was interested in a settlement of the Ukraine conflict and wished to find a solution that would meet the interests of both Russia and Africa.
In turn, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on August 4 that "Beijing is ready to work with the international community and continue playing a constructive role in the search for a political solution to the crisis in Ukraine."