Russian, Ukrainian presidents make clear their stances on settlement of crisis

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia has always remained open to resuming negotiations with Ukraine on a settlement of the war, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview that Ukraine must try to end the war with Russia by diplomatic means next year.

Putin discussed the situation in Ukraine with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in their first telephone conservation since December 2022, the Kremlin reported Friday.

The two leaders exchanged views on the current situation in Ukraine, and the Russian president noted that the crisis was "a direct result of NATO's long-standing aggressive policies" aiming at creating an "anti-Russian bridgehead" on Ukrainian territory while ignoring Russia's security interest.

Putin further said that Russia has always remained open to resuming negotiations, which were essentially halted by the Ukrainian government. He reiterated that Moscow's proposals for potential peace talks were outlined during a speech held in June at the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Any potential agreement must address Russia's security interests, reflect the new territorial realities, and resolve the root causes of the conflict, the Kremlin reported citing the Russian leader.

Putin further noted the "unprecedented degradation" of relations between Russia and Germany was due to the unfriendly policies of the German authorities. He stressed that Russia has always met its commitments in the energy sector and is ready for mutually beneficial cooperation if Germany expresses interest.

In a radio interview with Ukrainian Radio aired on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine must do all it can to end the war with Russia by diplomatic means next year.

Negotiations with Russia are only possible if Ukraine is not facing Russia alone and has a strong position, said the head of state.

Zelensky said that the United States can act as a mediator in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, but must maintain the position of supporting Ukraine.

The president said that he will only discuss specific issues with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, though his entourages have proposed various peace plans.

He noted that Russian armed forces are massing for a joint attack on Ukraine, while Ukraine has prepared countermeasures for this and strengthened its air defense system.

Russian, Ukrainian presidents make clear their stances on settlement of crisis

China continues to lead the world in logistics demand, with a growing industry now focused on improving quality and efficiency, according to an official with the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) at an academic conference on Saturday.

The 2024 China Logistics Academy Annual Conference, held from Friday to Sunday in Langfang City of north China's Hebei Province, brings together experts and scholars in the logistics sector for discussions across 11 sub-forums.

He Liming, head of the CFLP, told the conference that China remains the world's largest logistics market, with the sector seeing considerable growth.

The country is home to over 10,000 A-level logistics companies and 2,700 logistics parks spanning over 100,000 square meters. The emerging system of logistics corridors, hubs, and networks is streamlining operations and fostering greater efficiency in the sector.

Companies are increasingly embracing new technologies and business models, with smart logistics leading the charge in shaping the future of the industry.

In the first three quarters of this year, the ratio of social logistics costs to GDP stood at 14.1 percent, reflecting a 0.1 percentage point drop from the first half of the year and a 0.2 percentage point decrease compared to the same period last year, signaling a steady decline in overall logistics costs.

"Overall, China's logistics industry is transitioning from rapid expansion in scale to a new phase centered on enhancing quality and efficiency. This shift requires the development of new quality productive forces to meet and create new demands. By adjusting industrial structure and promoting reforms, China aims to reduce logistics costs nationwide and accelerate the transition from a logistics giant to a global logistics leader," He said.

He also pointed out that China's vast logistics industry provides essential support for developing new quality productive forces. In recent years, smart logistics has surged, driving the emergence of a number of prominent digital logistics platforms. For example, China currently has over 3,000 online freight platforms, illustrating the deep convergence of the digital and real economies fueled by the integration of massive data and diverse application scenarios.

China remains largest global logistics market, shifts focus to efficiency