Look at NATO’s eastward expansion: China to West

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday asked Western countries to pay attention to the negative impact of NATO’s continuous eastward expansion on Russia’s security.

He said this during a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken over China-U.S. relations and the Ukraine issue at the latter’s request, reports Xinhua. The two sides exchanged views on Ukraine.

Blinken briefed the Chinese side on the U.S. views and position on the current situation in Ukraine.

Wang said that the evolution of the Ukraine issue is something China does not want to see. He pointed out that the Ukraine crisis can only be solved through dialogue and negotiations.

China will continue to speak out and do its best for peace, Wang said, adding that China encourages direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

Though negotiations may not go smoothly, he said, the international community should continue to cooperate and support such efforts until results and peace are achieved.

The Chinese side, Wang said, also encourages the United States, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the European Union to engage in equal dialogue with Russia, face up to the frictions and problems accumulated over the years, pay attention to the negative impact of NATO’s continuous eastward expansion on Russia’s security, and seek to build a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism in accordance with the “indivisibility of security” principle.