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Speaking at the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) gathering, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng stated, “Cessation of hostilities and the resumption of peace talks is the only way to settle the Ukraine crisis.”

On the conflict’s first anniversary in February, China presented a set of recommendations for ending the hostilities, though neither Moscow nor Kyiv appeared particularly receptive. As a pivotal member of the UN Security Council, China seeks to “continue playing a constructive role,” said Han, without offering further details.

In the backdrop of escalating ties between Beijing and Moscow, China’s attempts at brokering peace have faced skepticism. The bond between the two nations was evident when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Moscow in March, heralding a “new era” of collaboration with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, who has now been invited for a subsequent visit to China.

At the UNGA, Han also took the opportunity to amplify China’s vision of an alternate global framework, diverging from what Beijing perceives as “Western hegemony.” He resonated with the developing nations by expressing that China, despite being the world’s second-largest economy, sees itself as part of the Global South, a term often associated with nations from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. “As the largest developing country, China is a natural member of the Global South. It breathes the same breath with other developing countries and shares the same future with them,” Han emphasized.