Dialog brings hope for peace in the settlement of the ongoing Ukraine crisis, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday.
She made the statement in response to a media query on the exchange of views on the crisis at the meeting between President Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday.
"In a meeting on February 25, President Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine crisis. President Xi expounded on China's principled position, and pointed out that the key to finding a solution lies in consistent dialogue and negotiation. It is important to ensure the equal participation of all sides and strike a solid foundation for peace; accommodate the legitimate concerns of all sides and enhance the will for peace; and realize common security and build a lasting architecture of peace. ," said Mao.
"Since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, China has stayed committed to promoting peace talks and a political settlement of the crisis. Though parties remain divided, they engaged in talks that are beginning to focus on substantive issues concerning the crisis. China welcomes this. Peace talks won’t end the crisis overnight, but as long as dialogue is still on, there is hope for peace. We hope the three aspects of effort that should be ensured proposed by President Xi Jinping will offer useful inspirations to talks among relevant parties," said Mao.
"China will continue to play a constructive role for peace in its own way, support all efforts for peace, and support all parties in continuing dialogue and negotiation, building consensus, reaching a fair, durable and binding peace agreement, and bringing about lasting peace and stability in Europe," she said.
Dialog brings hope for settlement of Ukraine crisis: spokeswoman
The cross-border trade zone for border residents in Horgos City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, registered a record-breaking trade performance in January 2026, official data shows.
In January, the trade zone achieved its highest monthly performance since its establishment, with total trade surpassing 30.76 million yuan (about 4.5 million U.S. dollars) and goods transactions reaching 2,865 tonnes.
The trade zone is often bustling with activity, where local residents in the border area now can complete the entire trade process, from order declaration to payment settlement, much more efficiently using facial recognition and mobile applications.
"This year, settlement speed has noticeably improved. I finished trading and payment in less than 10 minutes. There are also more products to choose from. I've heard that processing facilities will be built here soon, which might even allow us to work closer to home," said Li Juan, a resident.
The efficiency boost is partly attributed to innovative cooperative models. One such cooperative has integrated resources from individual border traders and coordinated logistics and customs clearance, helping over 600 border residents complete transactions in January alone. The average household income increased by 18 percent year on year, effectively addressing the challenges of small-scale, scattered trading operations and serving as a key link between policy implementation and the benefits reaching local residents.
"This year, we've adopted a 'joint household operation' model, grouping scattered border residents geographically, with two liaison officers assigned to each group and alternating their shifts to ensure year-round order tracking and paperwork handling," said Li Wenting, head of the cooperative.
The border trade zone in Horgos, a vital gateway connecting Central Asia, West Asia, and Europe, has leveraged digital platforms to streamline trade processes.
"We have continuously optimized the 'border trade + cooperative + border residents + business entities' model. With declaration procedures simplified and digital platforms improved, trade has become smoother and more efficient. January alone witnessed a total of 3,989 trade transactions concluded, adding a total of 307,700 yuan to border residents' income," said Akper Tusbek, director of the operation and management company of the trade zone.
Trade in Xinjiang border zone hits record monthly high in January
