China Says It Values Moldovan Relations, Even With Ukraine Clash

The Chinese foreign minister met with the deputy prime minister of Moldova to talk about how close the two countries want to stay. He said Beijing “cherishes” ties with Moldova and wants them to grow stronger, even though the two sides disagree on Russia’s war in Ukraine. The meeting happened right after Russian President Vladimir Putin spent a day visiting China to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The two leaders said they would coordinate more and support each other, but the talk also covered Ukraine. Moldova’s deputy prime minister was the first Moldovan foreign‑minister‑type official to visit China in almost eight years. He has been a strong critic of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has fought with Moscow over the break‑away region of Transnistria.China, on the other hand, has not called Russia’s actions an invasion. It says it wants a “political settlement” to the conflict, a view that the Chinese minister repeated when speaking with Moldovan officials. Moldova borders Ukraine and sees Transnistria, which has a large Russian military presence, as a threat to its independence. The country wants to join the European Union by 2030 and believes that Moscow’s influence there undermines its sovereignty. The Chinese foreign ministry said the minister emphasized the long‑standing friendship between the two countries and that China is ready to work with Moldova to build deeper trust. Both sides expressed a desire to keep communication open, even though they come from very different political positions. The discussion shows how countries can talk about tough issues while still trying to maintain friendly relations.