Beijing and Moscow vowed to strengthen ties and improve communication on a political solution to the war in Ukraine in talks on Friday between China's special envoy for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, and Russian diplomats, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Li was in the Russian capital as part of Beijing's effort to push its peace plan and at the tail end of a tour that took him to five other European countries, including Ukraine.
"[China will] strengthen exchanges and dialogue with all parties, including Russia, and make concrete efforts for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis," China's foreign ministry quoted the envoy as saying.
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Li, a former ambassador to Russia, said Beijing had always upheld an "objective and fair" position and actively promoted peace talks, according to the Chinese foreign ministry, though it did not offer details on Beijing's proposals.
The ministry said the two sides agreed that Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia in March "further deepened political mutual trust" and "injected new and strong impetus" into China-Russia cooperation.
The two sides vowed to strengthen bilateral and multilateral strategic coordination, as well as exchanges and cooperation in various fields, the ministry said.
According to the ministry, Moscow said it would continue to adhere to the direction of political settlement and continue to strengthen communication and coordination with China.
China has portrayed itself as a neutral party in the conflict, but its position has been met with scepticism from the West because of Beijing's close ties with Moscow and its reluctance to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Beijing put forward a vague 12-point peace proposal in February, which called for a ceasefire and peace talks.
Li's visit to Europe came after a long-awaited phone call between Xi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last month.
Lavrov welcomed China's "balanced" position on the Ukraine crisis and hailed the two countries' close ties during his meeting with Li Hui, according to the Russian foreign ministry.
Lavrov "thanked the Chinese side for its balanced position on the Ukraine crisis and praised Beijing's readiness to play a positive role in its settlement", according to Russian state-run Tass news agency.