BEIJING, January 16. /TASS/. Authorities in China are working on effective ways out of the Ukrainian crisis and will contribute to a peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng said on Monday.

Addressing a forum hosted by the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies currently underway in Beijing, the senior Chinese diplomat said, "As for the Ukrainian problem, <...> China has taken the right action to seek to promote [Russia-Ukraine] peace talks. We are working on settlement projects that could address the root causes and consequences of the Ukrainian crisis."

According to Xie, Beijing has made its own assessment of the developments and holds an independent position based on objective facts. "This has been our contribution to maintaining global peace and security," he added.

The Chinese diplomat said Beijing was resolutely committed to peaceful progress, a key principle of its international policy. "Some have been making such a fuss without using any facts. <...> They have been spreading rumors alleging that our country would use force to turn things around, maligning China for some secret reasons," Xie lamented.

"Humankind can hope for sustainable development only if everybody stays on a peaceful path, while maintaining harmony in relations between nations," the Chinese diplomat concluded.