China lobbies for its 'peace plan' ahead of Peace Summit in Switzerland - media

Reuters reports this with reference to 10 anonymous diplomats.

According to the sources, Beijing did not openly criticize the Peace Summit to be held in Switzerland on June 15-16, nor did it persuade states not to participate in it. However, at the same time, China believes that the event will allegedly prolong the war in Ukraine.

The interlocutors of the news agency add that China told Western countries that many developing countries share this opinion.

It is noted that one diplomat called such actions by Beijing a "hidden boycott" of the upcoming peace summit, as, according to sources, the country has intensified its information and propaganda activities through meetings with foreign officials and messages to foreign missions as the event approaches.

According to diplomats, Chinese Special Representative Li Hui visited Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates last month and met with representatives of developing countries at their embassies in Beijing.

It is emphasized that when China explains its absence at the Peace Summit in Switzerland, it is trying to involve developing countries in an alternative "peace plan" containing 6 points. China presented it together with Brazil in May.

"The proposal calls for an international peace conference "at an appropriate time, recognized by both Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation of all parties, and an honest discussion of all peace plans," Reuters adds.

Peace Summit: details and features of the event

On February 26, Switzerland announced its intention to hold a peace summit in Ukraine by the summer. 

On March 18, Chinese Ambassador to Switzerland Wang Shi-ting said that China is considering participating in the Peace Summit, which is being organized by Switzerland at Ukraine's request.

On May 2, the Swiss Foreign Ministry said that Russia should participate in the Peace Summit, as "a peace process without Russia is unthinkable." However, this time Moscow was not invited to the event.

On May 31, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said that her country would not participate in the Peace Summit in Switzerland on June 15 and 16 because it was not approved by Russia. 

 On June 2, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused China of helping Russia to disrupt the summit diplomatically, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated that China and Russia were carrying out large-scale opposition to the Peace Summit. 

Later it became known that the United States was encouraging China to participate in the Global Peace Summit.

The press secretary of the President of Ukraine, Serhiy Nikiforov, said that China is still unlikely to participate in the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland, which will take place on June 15-16.