China revealed its expectations peace plan that Beijing is considering a 12-point political document distributed by the Xinhua news agency, in which it intends to clarify its position on the war in Ukraine. Calls on all parties to avoid nuclear escalation and stop attacks on civilians while protecting Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty. This approach is released in connection with the first anniversary of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has just been in Moscow, where he met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Chinese leader Xi Jinping is expected to visit in the spring.

The document says the international community should “create the conditions and platforms” for the resumption of negotiations, and ensures that China continues to “play a constructive role in this regard.” He criticizes the sanctions imposed on the Russian regime for invading Ukraine. He does not propose specific measures. Here is the plan that China released this Friday:

1. Respect the sovereignty of all countries. The universally recognized norms of international law, including the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, must be strictly observed. The sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries must be effectively protected. All countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal members of the international community. All parties must jointly uphold the basic norms governing international relations and uphold international fairness and justice. The equal and uniform application of international law must be encouraged and double standards must be rejected.

2. Get rid of the Cold War mentality. The security of one country should not be ensured at the expense of others. The security of the region should not be ensured by the strengthening or expansion of military blocs. The legitimate interests and security concerns of all countries must be taken seriously and given due consideration. There is no simple solution to a complex problem. All parties should, following the vision of common, global, shared and sustainable security and taking into account peace and stability in the world in the long term, contribute to the creation of a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture. All parties should refrain from seeking their own security at the expense of the security of others, avoid confrontation as a whole, and work together for peace and stability on the Eurasian continent.

3. Cessation of hostilities. Conflicts and wars do not benefit anyone. All parties must maintain rationality and restraint, avoid fanning the fire and exacerbating tensions, and prevent the crisis from further escalating or even spiraling out of control. All parties must support Russia and Ukraine to work in the same direction and resume direct dialogue as soon as possible with the aim of gradually de-escalating the situation and eventually achieving a complete ceasefire.

4. Restart peace talks. Dialogue and negotiations are the only viable solution to the Ukrainian crisis. All efforts leading to a peaceful solution to the crisis should be encouraged and supported. The international community must remain committed to the right approach to facilitating peace talks, helping conflicting parties to open the door to political agreement as soon as possible and creating the conditions and venues for the resumption of negotiations. China will continue to play a constructive role in this regard.

5. Solve the humanitarian crisis. All measures that contribute to the alleviation of the humanitarian crisis should be encouraged and supported. Humanitarian operations must follow the principles of neutrality and impartiality, and humanitarian issues must not be politicized. The security of civilians must be effectively protected, and humanitarian corridors must be established to evacuate civilians from conflict zones. Efforts must be made to increase humanitarian assistance in the areas concerned, improve humanitarian conditions and ensure rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access in order to prevent a larger humanitarian crisis. The UN should be supported to play a coordinating role in sending humanitarian aid to conflict zones.

6. Protect civilians and prisoners of war. Parties to a conflict must strictly observe international humanitarian law, avoid attacking civilians or civilian objects, protect women, children and other victims of the conflict, and respect the fundamental rights of prisoners of war. China supports the exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine and calls on all parties to create more favorable conditions for it.

7. Ensuring the safety of nuclear power plants. China opposes armed attacks on nuclear power plants and other peaceful nuclear facilities and calls on all parties to abide by international law, including the Convention on Nuclear Safety, and resolutely prevent man-made nuclear accidents. China supports the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in its constructive role in ensuring the safety and security of peaceful nuclear installations.

8. Reducing strategic risks. Nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be waged. The threat or use of nuclear weapons must be countered. Nuclear proliferation must be prevented and nuclear crises must be avoided. China opposes the research, development and use of chemical and biological weapons by any country and under any circumstances.

9. Promote the export of grain. All parties should fully and effectively implement the Black Sea Grain Initiative signed by Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the UN in a balanced manner and support the important role of the UN in this regard. China’s Global Food Security Cooperation Initiative offers a workable solution to the global food crisis.

10. Lift unilateral sanctions. Unilateral sanctions and maximum pressure cannot solve the problem; they only create new problems. China opposes unilateral sanctions not authorized by the UN Security Council. Relevant countries should stop abusing unilateral sanctions and “long-range weapons jurisdiction” against other countries, contribute to the de-escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, and create conditions for the development of the economies of developing countries and the improvement of the lives of their peoples.

eleven. Ensure the stability of production chains and supply chains. All parties must seriously support the existing world economic system and oppose the use of the world economy as a tool or weapon for political ends. A concerted effort is needed to mitigate the side effects of the crisis and prevent it from disrupting international cooperation in energy, finance, food trade and transport and undermining the global economic recovery.

12. Contribute to post-conflict reconstruction. The international community must take action to support post-conflict reconstruction in conflict zones. China stands ready to assist and play a constructive role in this endeavour.