United Nations.
A Chinese envoy said Thursday that members of the Friends of Peace group welcomed recent developments in the Ukraine conflict as an opportunity to build momentum toward peace.
Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, noted at a press conference following a meeting of the Friends of Peace group that recent developments indicate that the conflict in Ukraine “may be approaching a turning point, where the focus is shifting from the battlefield to the negotiating table.”
“We welcome this potential shift and see it as an opportunity to create new momentum toward ending the conflict,” he said on behalf of the group’s members, adding that “this could constitute a decisive step toward peace and pave the way for substantive and sustainable progress.”
Fu urged all parties and stakeholders to seize this opportunity and engage constructively in peace talks.
He emphasized that “the common goal must be to find a just and lasting solution — one that addresses the mutual concerns of the parties to the conflict and leads to a peace agreement directly negotiated and accepted by those parties.” He added, “We believe that the United Nations can play a role in promoting such diplomatic efforts and in implementing any peace agreement.”
The envoy also noted that the group’s members are “concerned about the risks and crises arising from this conflict, which has had repercussions for many countries, including those in the Global South.”
He added, “Issues such as food and energy security, as well as humanitarian assistance, should be an integral part of the peace process, and the voice of the Global South should be heard and taken into account in supporting peace in the region.”
Fu emphasized that a negotiated political solution, which includes comprehensive diplomacy and political means based on the UN Charter, is the only way to end this conflict. He added that the group’s members “stand ready to contribute to a peaceful resolution of the conflict and a better future for all.”
It is worth noting that China, Brazil, and other countries from the Global South formed the Friends of Peace Group last year with the aim of supporting the UN Charter, fostering consensus on a political solution to the crisis, and advancing prospects for peace.
