On April 13, 2022, Mme. Guo Haiyan, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, published an article entitled "Fulfil a major country's responsibility to maintain peace by playing constructive role" in the Guyana Chronicle newspaper. Below is the full article:
After more than 40 days, the Ukraine Crisis continues. It is regrettable and pitiful to see that countries have come to the point of meeting on the battlefield. Sanctions have expedited the spillover effect of the crisis and brought serious negative impacts to global economic recovery. Why did the crisis break out? How to prevent further damage in time? Can we avoid similar crisis in the future? It is worth thinking about by all.
To de-escalate the situation in Ukraine and secure ceasefire as early as possible is the earnest expectation of the international community as well as the strong desire of China. China has been consistently upholding an independent foreign policy of peace. To safeguard peace is deeply rooted in the spirit of the Chinese people. On Ukraine issue, China has always been advocating that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, that the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter should be upheld, that the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously, and that all efforts conducive to a peaceful settlement of the crisis should be supported. China has been firmly practicing these advocacies and tirelessly playing a constructive role in promoting the ease of the Ukraine situation in its own way.
China always supports settling disputes peacefully through dialogue and negotiation and has put magnificent efforts on it. Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed that Russia and Ukraine should conduct peace talks as early as possible when he had a telephone conversation with Russian President Putin on the next day of the outbreak of the conflicts, and got a positive response. President Xi then exchanged views with many heads of states to promote the resolution of the crisis in a proper way. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has also communicated frequently with his counterparts of various parties including EU, the US, Russia and Ukraine. There were positive signals from both Russian and Ukrainian sides during the peace talks. China calls on the international community to continue to focus on facilitating dialogues and negotiations, remain rational and strengthen unity, until the two parties have reached consensus peacefully. On the contrary, some international forces are intentionally circulating disinformation and keen to provide military aids, which have no difference with adding fuel to the fire.
China always insists that to mitigate the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine is the matter of urgency and has proposed a six-point initiative on this, calling on the international community to prevent further humanitarian crisis together. China is among the first countries to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and has already sent 3 batches of emergency aid supplies to Ukraine. However, the escalation of all-dimensional and indiscriminate sanctions has created new humanitarian issues. The developing countries, which make the majority of the world and are not parties to the conflict, are forcefully dragged into this geopolitical conflict and great power competition. Their people have to bear the consequences of the soaring prices of oil, food, among others and an even-harder life in the COVID-19 situation. It is not fair. In addressing international and regional hotspot issues, there cannot be only two options, namely the use of force and sanctions.
China always advocates for common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. The security of all countries is indivisible and the security of one country should not come at the expense of the security of other countries. Respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries is a basic norm governing international relations that applies to all countries. There should be no exceptions, still less double standards. A world of lasting peace can only be achieved when all parties discard the Cold-War mentality, stop bloc confrontation, and form a balanced, effective and sustainable global and regional security mechanism through dialogues. Those practices of talking loudly about peace on the one hand but obsessing with bloc confrontation on the other hand are quite dangerous and worrying and should be rejected resolutely.
As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a responsible major country, China always takes an attitude of objectivity and impartiality and decides its position and policy on the basis of the merits of the issue. China is willing to work with all peace-loving countries including Guyana to facilitate dialogue and communication, create opportunities for peace and prospects for negotiation, and continue to contribute to safeguarding peace and stability of the world.