China’s willingness to hold talks with the papal envoy is considered significant (File)
Vatican CITY:
Pope Francis’ envoy, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, had “open and cordial” discussions in Beijing with a Chinese government official about the need to find ways to bring peace to Ukraine, the Vatican said Thursday.
During a meeting with Li Hui, China’s special envoy for Eurasian affairs, the Italian cardinal also discussed the issue of food security and blocked grain exports from Ukraine.
The meeting, which “took place in an open and cordial atmosphere, was dedicated to the war in Ukraine and its dramatic consequences,” a statement said.
The two sides underlined “the need to join efforts to encourage dialogue and find paths to peace,” the Vatican added.
Since Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022, China has refrained from condemning its ally Moscow, although it has repeatedly called for a ceasefire and a political solution to the crisis.
Before his mission in Beijing, Zuppi visited Kiev and Moscow in June and Washington in July as part of the Holy See’s so-far failed attempts to bring Ukraine and Russia closer to the negotiating table.
China’s willingness to hold talks with the papal envoy is seen as important given the difficult relations between Beijing and the Vatican.
The Vatican maintains bilateral relations with democratically governed Taiwan, but not with China, which claims the island as part of its territory. The Vatican is the only state in Europe that recognizes Taipei.
Sino-Vatican ties have also been strained due to disagreements over the appointment of bishops in China. The Vatican complains that Beijing has unilaterally appointed bishops several times, violating a historic 2018 pact.
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