Xi-Jinping Zelensky meeting possible next month says Ukrainian delegate in Beijing.
A former Ukrainian deputy foreign minister said diplomacy between China and Ukraine has improved, raising the possibility of a meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Volodymyr Zelensky next month.
Oleksandr Chalyi, part of Ukraine’s delegation at China’s Xiangshan Forum, noted Beijing’s efforts to restore European security and said Kyiv was awaiting direct contact between the two leaders.
While adopting a neutral stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, China maintains strategic ties with Moscow. The Ukrainian foreign minister met his Chinese counterpart in July.
According to an analyst from the China Institute of International Studies, Beijing does not want its mediation efforts to go to waste and is open to joining future summits involving Ukraine and Russia.
Top security officials from over 90 countries and organizations are attending the three-day forum in Beijing to discuss regional tensions and international conflicts.
Western nations sent smaller delegations, preferring multilateral platforms like the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore to engage with China on security matters.
The US plans to send a senior defense official, in potential signs of deeper working-level military exchanges with China on issues like Taiwan and the South China Sea despite some disagreements.
With regional disputes simmering, Beijing aims to promote itself as a responsible player by hosting the forum annually.
