China is concerned about an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine and wants Moscow and Kyiv to engage in peace talks, senior Chinese diplomat Qin Gang told his Ukrainian counterpart on Thursday.

"China hopes that all parties will remain calm, rational and restrained, and resume peace talks as soon as possible," Qin told Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.

Qin added that China hopes Ukraine and Russia will not close door to political solution, the ministry said.

During the telephone conversation with Kuleba, Qin said that during the 31 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Ukraine relations have maintained the momentum of development. China is ready to work with Ukraine to promote the sustainable and stable development of the two countries' relations with a long-term perspective. 

Qin noted that the pragmatic cooperation between the countries is a good foundation with great potential, and the modernization process in the Chinese style will provide broader opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Ukraine.

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Kuleba said that China is not only an important partner of Ukraine, but also an indispensable and key power in international affairs. He congratulated China on its recent success in bringing about a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran. He said Ukraine will continue to adhere to the one-China principle and respect China's territorial integrity, and looks forward to enhancing mutual trust and deepening cooperation with China in various fields.

Kuleba introduced the latest situation of the Ukrainian crisis and the prospects for peace talks, thanked China for providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and said that the position paper issued by China on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis reflects its sincerity in promoting a ceasefire and stopping the war, and hoped to maintain communication with China.

Qin focused on the "four shoulds" put forward by President Xi Jinping, stressing that China has always upheld an objective and impartial position on the Ukraine issue, committed to persuading peace and promoting talks, and called on the international community to create conditions for peace talks. 

Qin reiterated that China is concerned about the escalation of the crisis, and hopes that all parties will remain calm, rational and restrained, resume peace talks as soon as possible and push for a return to a political solution. He hopes that countries will keep hope for dialogue and negotiation and not close the door to a political solution, no matter how difficult and challenging it is. China will continue to play a constructive role for a ceasefire to stop the war, ease the crisis and restore peace, he said.

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