China to establish "friends of peace" platform for Ukraine crisis with like-minded countries: spokesman

China

China to establish "friends of peace" platform for Ukraine crisis with like-minded countries: spokesman

2024-09-27 16:56 Last Updated At：20:37

China and Brazil, together with other like-minded "Global South" countries, will establish a "Friends of Peace" platform to help peacefully solve the Ukraine crisis, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday.

Lin noted that as the ongoing Ukraine crisis heightens international concerns, calls for peace and dialogue from the global community have intensified.

"Currently, the Ukraine crisis drags on, and the risks of escalation and spillover are rising. There is a widespread concern in the international community. Previously, China and Brazil jointly released a six-point consensus advocating for a political solution to the Ukraine crisis, which has garnered positive responses and support globally. Recently, calls for peace and dialogue from the international community have intensified, with an increasing number of 'Global South' countries uniting to actively foster an atmosphere conducive to peace and to create conditions for resolution," said Lin.

Lin said that the open platform aims to foster inclusive dialogue, which will contribute constructively to the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

"China, Brazil and other 'Global South' countries sharing the same vision are about to establish the 'Friends of Peace' platform on the Ukraine crisis. This is an effort made by China, Brazil and 'Global South' countries to seek peace. 'Friends of Peace' is not a closed group, but an open platform. It does not seek competition or confrontation, but rather an inclusive dialogue. 'Friends of Peace' is born for peace and should be welcomed by the international community. It aims to make an objective and rational voice and will play a constructive role in the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, the Ukraine issue," said Lin.

Greece concerned over refugee influx from in Middle East amid escalating situation: minister

2024-09-27 18:58 Last Updated At：20:17

Greece is concerned that the recent escalation in the Middle East situation may trigger a new refugee surge to Europe, Greek Minister for Migration and Asylum Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos said Thursday in Athens.

In an interview with China Media Group (CMG), Panagiotopoulos said Greece is paying close attention to the recent near-daily exchanges of fire between Israel and the Hezbollah group in Lebanon. He expressed the Greek government's deep concerns over a potential Israeli ground offensive in Lebanon, which may risk dragging the entire Middle East into war and result in the exodus of illegal migrants and refugees from conflict-hit areas.

Greece, as the main point of entry for refugees fleeing into Europe, may bear the brunt of a potential migrant wave, he said.

"The dramatic turn of events in our wider region, like the escalation in Lebanon for example, would probably result in much bigger flows of refugees fleeing war zones. So, obviously, Greece will be affected," Panagiotopoulos said.

Should a refugee influx occur, the minister said, all members of the European Union should share the burdening of taking in the asylum seekers and set up a new mechanism to tackle the problem.

"There is a considerable increase [in] migration flows. That's for sure. I estimated that the flows are about 50 percent higher this year. As a transit country, as an entrance country to the European Union, all countries like Greece should engage in more comprehensive dialog in order to solve the problem. We have to act as one and not in unilateral ways," he said.

From the beginning of the year to Sept. 22, UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, had registered a total of 38,452 migrants and refugees in Greece - with nearly 90 percent of them arriving by sea, almost reaching the number reported in the entire year of 2023.