China confirms non-recognition of attempted annexation of Crimea and ban on contacts with occupation authorities

"The key thing is that the government of China does not recognize Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea and has informed the country's central and regional authorities about a ban on contacts with the peninsula's occupation authorities," Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Yevheniy Yenin posted on Facebook following consultations with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Le Yucheng.

As noted, the ministries of foreign affairs of Ukraine and China agreed on a crisis communication mechanism to discuss issues of crucial importance for the national interests of the countries.

In addition, according to Yenin, the government of China reaffirmed its readiness to assist Ukraine in overcoming COVID-19, in particular by agreeing on an export license for several million doses of vaccine.

The parties also agreed to work out a package of decisions on trade liberalization between Ukraine and China and intensify people-to-people contacts.

"Intensification of people-to-people contacts is a common priority. On behalf of the President of Ukraine, we will start the relevant negotiation process in the near future," Yenin said.

As reported, on January 28, President Volodymyr Zelensky enacted the decision of the National Security and Defense Council to impose sanctions on Chinese companies which intended to purchase Motor Sich.

On March 11, the occupation authorities and the Russian media announced the arrival of a "delegation from China" to assess the peninsula's recreational potential.

Following a meeting with Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Ukraine Fan Xianrong, Deputy Foreign Minister Yevheniy Yenin said that he had raised the issue of a recent visit by a Chinese business delegation to the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea and said it had been an unfriendly step and a gross violation of effective Ukrainian law.

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