Wang Yi, China's top diplomat, met with President Emmanuel Macron in France Wednesday and discussed efforts in bringing peace to Ukraine.
“China values the role France plays as an independent great power,” the Chinese embassy said after Wang met with Macron at the Elysée Palace.
“Both sides comprehensively exchanged opinions on the Ukraine issue. Wang Yi emphasized that on this issue, China insist on being objective and is always trying to promote peace and realize talks,” the statement read, adding that China “is willing to work with France and the rest of the international community to explore political means to solve the issue in order to achieve ceasefire and the end of the war as quickly as possible.”
An earlier statement by the Elysée Palace also stated both countries expressed “the same objective” regarding Ukraine, with Macron emphasizing “the consequences of this conflict on international peace and security as well as France’s support to an aggressed country.”
Wang also had dinner with France’s Foreign Minister, Catherine Colonna, who tweeted that the pair had a “solid exchange on the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and ways for us to work on resolving the conflict.”
Wang will continue to meet with French officials on Thursday.