Xi pushes talks to settle conflicts, opposes sanctions

President Xi Jinping says Beijing supports talks to resolve international disputes and opposes "wanton use'' of sanctions and "long-arm jurisdiction" in a speech, without directly mentioning the West's punitive actions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

Xi's remarks confirm that China is sticking to its stance of refusing to criticize Russia's invasion of Ukraine despite the conflict's toll on the Ukrainian population and global security.

Beijing has refused to call the conflict an invasion and said Russia was provoked by NATO's expansion.

Despite that, Xi said China remains "committed to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries" and noninterference in their internal affairs.

"We stay committed to peacefully resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation, support all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of crises, reject double standards and oppose the wanton use of unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction," Xi said yesterday in a televised address to the annual Boao Forum for Asia in the southern island province of Hainan.

China has repeatedly criticized Western sanctions, including those against Russia, but it has also been careful not to provide assistance to Moscow.

Xi warned that economic "decoupling" and pressure tactics such as severing supply chains would not work.

"China would like to put forward a global security initiative" that upholds "the principle of indivisibility of security," Xi said.

"We should uphold the principle of indivisibility of security, build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture and oppose the building of national security on the basis of insecurity in other countries."

Russia has insisted that Western governments respect a 1999 agreement based on the principle of "indivisible security" that no country can strengthen its own security at the expense of others.

Xi said efforts are needed to stabilize global supply chains, but also said China's economy is resilient and that its long-term trend had not changed.

China's economy is facing headwinds from the impact of its aggressive efforts to stem the spread of Covid, especially in its economic hub of Shanghai.

At a daily briefing later, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said: "Sanctions are not the right way to de-escalate tensions, end wars or avoid casualties, but will only exacerbate conflicts, increase spillover and make the world pay more," Wang said.