Chinese President Xi Jinping may meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy next month, according to a Ukrainian delegate speaking at the opening of China’s annual Xiangshan Forum in Beijing on Thursday. Oleksandr Chalyi, a former deputy foreign minister of Ukraine, noted that diplomacy between Kyiv and Beijing has significantly improved in recent months, making a direct meeting between the two leaders possible.

“All of us in Ukraine are now waiting for direct contacts between President Zelenskyy and President Xi,” Chalyi said, speaking during the three-day forum, which focuses on military diplomacy and global security.

China’s Role in the Ukraine Conflict

China has maintained a neutral stance in Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, balancing its close strategic ties with Moscow while promoting itself as a mediator in international conflicts. Despite its neutral position, China did not attend Ukraine’s June peace summit but has expressed interest in playing a role in future diplomatic efforts.

Cui Hongjian, a senior researcher at the China Institute of International Studies, emphasized China’s willingness to contribute to peace. “We are willing to do anything that is conducive to peace,” he stated on the sidelines of the forum, signaling the potential for China to join future discussions between Ukraine and Russia.

Tensions in the Asia-Pacific and Beyond

This year’s Xiangshan Forum, themed “Promoting Peace for a Shared Future,” has drawn participants from 90 countries, including the US, Belarus, and several Asia-Pacific nations. The forum comes at a time of heightened regional tensions, particularly between China and the Philippines over maritime disputes in the South China Sea, and ongoing military activities near Taiwan.

Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun is expected to deliver a keynote speech, addressing regional security concerns and reaffirming China’s stance on Taiwan, which it considers part of its territory. The forum also serves as a platform to discuss broader global security issues, including the Gaza crisis and China’s evolving military cooperation with Russia.

Amid these discussions, the possibility of a meeting between Xi and Zelenskyy offers a potential diplomatic breakthrough in efforts to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.