NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has criticized China for boycotting the peace conference in Switzerland later this month.
In a podcast interview with German regional public broadcaster NDR, Stoltenberg said it was regrettable that China had decided not to participate.
Switzerland has invited around 160 countries to the event on June 15 and 16 to discuss possible ways to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine.
China announced last week that it would not participate.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said in Beijing that there is a significant difference between the conference design and China’s expectations, as well as the general expectations of the international community.
Stoltenberg said China’s cancellation was not surprising.
He explained that not only had China failed to condemn the invasion, but that President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin had just signed an agreement pledging each other an unlimited partnership.
Stoltenberg said that since the invasion, China has sold advanced technology, microelectronics and other equipment to bolster Russia’s war economy, allowing Russia to continue its war against Ukraine.
Switzerland has confirmed that more than 80 countries will participate in the peace conference. Russia, which invaded Ukraine more than two years ago, has not received an invitation.
