BEIJING, May 16. /TASS/. The Chinese authorities criticized as groundless the G7 countries’ call to Beijing "not to undermine anti-Russian sanctions," the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday.
"China has always solved problems while maintaining an independent position," Zhao Lijian said at a briefing, commenting on the G7 statement at a Western female journalist’s request. "We are completely opposed to unilateral sanctions that ignore international law and the UN role," he added.
The West’s restrictions on Moscow cannot solve the Ukrainian conflict, the Chinese diplomat said. "On the contrary, the sanctions will create new complicated problems," he added.
Beijing expects alternative political efforts from the G7 countries that will make it possible to put an end to the Ukrainian crisis, Zhao Lijian said. He also warned that the Chinese leaders would not leave unattended any moves by Western countries if those start undermining China’s national interests.
In a joint statement on May 14 to sum up a three-day meeting in Wangels in northern Germany, the foreign ministers of the G7 group of nations (the UK, Germany, Italy, Canada, the US, France and Japan) called on China "not to assist Russia", "not to undermine sanctions imposed on Russia" and to desist from "means to legitimize Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine".