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The Ukrainian president described the phone call as “long and substantive.”

“I trust it (the conversation) and appointing a new ambassador to China will be an impetus to the development of our bilateral relations,” said Zelenskyy.

On the same day, he appointed former Minister for Strategic Industry, Pavlo Ryabikin, as Ukraine’s new Ambassador to China.

The talk also encompassed Sino-Ukrainian economic and trade ties.

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“Prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion, China was Ukraine’s number one trading partner,” a subsequent message on the president’s website quotes Zelenskyy.

“I trust today’s conversation will provide a substantial boost to restoring, maintaining, and developing this dynamic across all levels.”

Read also: China backs down from ambassador’s statement on sovereignty of former Soviet states, Crimea’s status

According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' spokesperson Hua Chunying, Ukraine requested the conversation. China plans to send a government envoy to deepen communication around the political settlement of the Russian war, which Beijing refers to as the "Ukrainian crisis." The ministry reiterated China's position of "always standing on the side of peace" and its willingness to develop bilateral relations with Ukraine.

"Dialogue and negotiations are the only viable way forward," Chunying emphasized via Twitter.

Read also: China benefits from prolonging the war in Ukraine, Czech president says

On Feb. 24, China published a document outlining its position on the "settlement" of Russia's war against Ukraine, including a call for a ceasefire and negotiations, but not a withdrawal of Russian troops.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine