Sánchez leaves China reaffirmed in his position on Ukraine and demanding that Xi speak with Zelenski

The president does not clarify if his conversation with the Chinese president makes him more optimistic about peace

MADRID, 31 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has ended his official visit to China reiterating Spain's support for the peace plan proposed by the Ukrainian President, Volodimir Zelenski, and calling on the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, with whom he has met in Beijing, to listen to what Kiev has to say about the conflict.

Sánchez has expressly avoided clarifying what the Chinese president has told him regarding his recent visit to Moscow and the meeting he had with Russian President Vladimir Putin, referring to the fact that the Chinese government must be the one to speak, while he has not wanted to either. indicate whether it leaves China more hopeful regarding a peaceful solution to the conflict.

The president had anticipated that one of the objectives of his visit was to learn the details of the document proposed by Xi to try to resolve the dispute, but he did not want to go into detail about what was discussed with the Chinese president, beyond indicating that he had expressly requested that he speak with Zelenski to "learn first-hand" his peace proposal, or if he leaves more hopeful and optimistic about the future.

However, at the press conference held at the end of the visit, Sánchez acknowledged that the Chinese document includes "some points that are very important", such as the fact that not only the use is rejected but also the threat to use of nuclear weapons in the conflict as well as respect for territorial integrity, "something that Putin is violating with his war".

The head of the Executive has insisted that the Spanish position is clear, as is that of the EU, which is united in its "defense of the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of a people that is being attacked", as is the Ukrainian, and in his "rejection and condemnation of the aggressor".

On this point, Sánchez has stressed that "we have nothing against the Russian people", but we do have against its president, who is "violating the United Nations Charter" and that ultimately what he seeks with the invasion of Ukraine is to "weaken a multilateral project of peace and welfare like the EU".

"We have understood the message, we know what Putin wants with his war in Ukraine and we are not going to accept it," he stressed. That is why Europe is helping Ukraine in all areas, with the shipment of arms, with financial support and with humanitarian support.

"To contribute to peace we have to do what we are doing and transfer the benefits of Zelenski's peace plan," he said. "We all want a peace but we want it to be just and lasting", for this, it must be based on the position of Ukraine, as an attacked country, and on the United Nations Charter.

On the other hand, the President of the Government has indicated that in recent days he has been in contact with the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, and her team and therefore knew about the intervention on China that she was going to carry out, although he did not want to comment on the terms in which the community manager expressed himself.

"I agree with her that the relationship between the EU and China is complex, and also very important," she stated, while defending the need to deepen it, something that she said Spain will try to do during the current Presidency that she will assume in the second semester.

However, he has made it clear that it is necessary to "find a better balance" in economic and trade relations, "respecting the rules of the game, improving transparency and guaranteeing reciprocity in market access."

During the EU Presidency, Spain will try to promote relations given that both parties are called upon to cooperate in the face of global challenges such as the climate emergency and to "bring closer positions on issues in which China and the European Union currently they have a greater distance", he indicated, highlighting on this point the resumption of the dialogue on Human Rights last February in Brussels and his confidence that it can continue.

"There are those who take it for granted that the 21st century is going to be a century of fragmentation, of warlike tensions and of division between blocks," said Sánchez, for whom being "drift would not benefit anyone." In this sense, he has considered that this would not have to be the case if Europe and the rest of the great world powers do not want to. "The future is not written, it is not imposed on us, we build it," he asserted.

But for this, he added, "we are obliged to work so that this new global order that is taking shape guarantees peace, development that is respectful of the planet, well-being and the rights and freedoms of our citizens.

"In the face of protectionism and mistrust that loom over the horizon", he concluded, "Spain will always defend openness and trust between partners", "based on symmetrical cooperation, mutual benefit and respect for the rules".