02:32
The world's largest security conference in Munich has come to an end after three days of intensive debates.
Outside the Bayerischer Hof, thousands of demonstrators demanded a ceasefire in Ukraine, while inside the conference venue Western leaders urged Europe to re-arm.
Ramping up the armory supply to Kyiv was the hot topic on the final day in Germany. French president Emmanuel Macron claims it's the only way for the continent to secure peace.
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"If Europe wants to defend Europe, it has to arm itself, make use of NATO interoperability, but also accelerate its ability to produce (weapons) on European soil," Macron said.
With major Russian offensives seemingly on the way, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stressed the need for speed.
"Much more has to be done and much quicker. There is still a lot to be done. We have to increase and accelerate our military support," said Borrell.
China's top diplomat Wang Yi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz were in Munich for the Security Conference. /Thomas Kienzle/Reuters
China's top diplomat Wang Yi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz were in Munich for the Security Conference. /Thomas Kienzle/Reuters
France and the other G7 countries used the stage in Munich to issue a warning to any country that militarily supports Russia's attack on Ukraine. Such actions would be sanctioned immediately, they said. Meanwhile, China called for fewer sanctions and more peace talks.
China's top diplomat Wang Yi said: "China is not a party to this crisis in Ukraine, but we are not standing idly by. Nor have we thrown fuel on the fire.
"We are more opposed to profiting from the fire. What China is doing, is to urge peace and promote talks. We will stand firmly on the side of peace and on the side of dialogue."
Wang Li also spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in the first face-to-face meeting between the two powers since the U.S. shot down a Chinese balloon.
Blinken was told that the U.S. must resolve the damage to China-U.S. relations caused by the indiscriminate use of force, while Blinken accused China of supporting Russia.
In response, Wang Yi stressed that on the Ukraine issue, China stands by principles. China is committed to promoting peace talks and has played a constructive role, and the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination is built on the basis of non-alliance, non-confrontation and non-targeting of third countries, which is within the sovereign right of any two independent states.
According to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement, Wang Yi said that China do not accept the U.S.'s finger-pointing or even coercion targeting China-Russia relations. Wang Yi pointed out the U.S., as a major country, has every reason to work for a political settlement of the crisis instead of fanning the flames or profiting from it.
While Russia was not invited to take part in the conference, China set out its position on settling the Ukraine crisis in a document that will state that all countries' territorial integrity must be respected.
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