China urges Ukraine to immediately correct its mistakes: foreign ministry

BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- China urges Ukraine to immediately correct its mistakes, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in Beijing on Tuesday, noting that China will resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and citizens.

Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's remarks that a new round of sanctions would soon be imposed on Russian entities and individuals assisting Russia, including nationals of other countries such as China.

Lin emphasized that China has always opposed unilateral sanctions that violate international law and are not authorized by the United Nations Security Council.

On China's role in the ongoing efforts to promote a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis, Lin said that since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, China has maintained close communication with all relevant parties, including Russia and Ukraine, and has remained committed to promoting a ceasefire and the cessation of hostilities, as well as advancing peace talks.

"The efforts China has made are evident to the international community," the spokesperson said.

He stressed that China supports all efforts conducive to peace and will continue to play a constructive role in this regard.