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00:00Me, first and foremost, what do you think President Xi can achieve in this trip? Well, people always focus on the war Ukraine in terms of his trip to Moscow. But first and foremost, it is about our bilateral relationship because this kind of exchange of visits actually was determined to meet the nineteen ninety alternative bases since President Putin came last year. So this year is China's turn to reciprocate. Of course, the war in Ukraine would be everybody's focus. And I believe since China has already proposed a peace plan. Therefore, these two leaders will discuss Chinese plan in detail is actually present. Putting already said something about this plan, as in CAC speaking, he welcomed this plan. But of course, the challenges. A roadmap. Yeah. Well, what shall we do? Some people say China's peace plan has no roadmap. But the question is why or neither Russia, Ukraine or United States love to see our fees. So you see a ceasefire. How can China propose a roadmap? Senior Colonel Joe, this is Stephen Engle, let me ask you just point blank, how does this visit, aside from the economic partnership that she wants to build, but essentially aligning with Moscow? How does this serve Beijing's interests at a time when Moscow is so greatly vilified around the world and was even, you know, accused by the ICC for war crimes recently, something that Moscow and Beijing, though, have dismissed? Well, first of all, Russia is China's greatest neighbour and vice versa. So therefore, you look natural reasons that we have to make sure that we have a NIKKEI relationship. Then about the war itself, China's attitude is very clear. China was not informed, only the beginning and China was not involved. So therefore, there should be no doubt about China's sincerity in playing a potential mediating role. But as to whether China can play this role or not is difficult because as the White House said, it not depends on China. Then about the arrest warrant with the International Criminal Code. I don't think it will help. First of all, it's symbolic only because Russia is not a signatory of the Romans statute. And, you know, President Putin won't go anywhere in his those countries idea where he might be arrested. And besides, I believe this would just a hard case resolved to carry on fighting. And that was exemplified in his most recent visit to Mario Pope. So does this kind of a symbolic gesture? Would it really help at all? Mm hmm. Okay. And I think to to paraphrase your point, senior colonel, China does not have a role to play right now because it doesn't seem like either side wants to stop the fighting. If that is the case, though, that we are headed into some sort of cease fire from both sides. What do you think China's role will be to broker any potential conversation around that? We have to wait until the right time when China can possibly jump in as they possibly, because while other countries have also have a peace proposal, for example, in the beginning, Italy actually proposed a peace plan then is not that is up to these countries to to to select what kind of a peace plan might be most suitable. And maybe they themselves can have a peace plan. So China, some people say China's a peace plan is just a summer, you know, very generous of principles. But the principles are important from finding a road. Right. So if you do not have principles, you just cannot find the road map. And then with this principles, if time is right. Because. No. Because, yes, they will keep on fighting. But in no, war will last forever. So when both of them are tired or one side doesn't want to go along, maybe that is a time when outsiders come actually to help, including China. So to get people to the table, to negotiate some sort of peace, it has to involve other sides as well. So how important, then, will a video call that has been rumored later this week after she's visit to Moscow with President Zelinsky of Ukraine? Well, yes, I you have to point out it is only a rumor. So I just cannot say whether that will happen or not. But I believe China's position is a carefully calculated and if China hasn't to make this call, there must be good reasons why China didn't make this call. And if China will make this call, and I'm sure China would believe that some things have changed it to the extent that this call is necessary. So we have to wait and see. But I believe China as a major power, which has a good relationship with both Moscow and Kiev, is actually examine the whole situation very carefully. And I believe the president Xi Jinping trip to Moscow would really help because there might be and not so many reports about what they talked about, but definitely they will talk it about this issue in great less. This is what my assumption. So, you know, maybe can you then summarize? You know, they talk about this relationship as no limits friendship between Russia and China. Are there limits then? And what are those limits? Yeah. This is the most widely misunderstood in the West. When China talks about limited friendship over in China, Russia is about only. That basically means that we should develop this relationship. Just to give you a scenario, if I say I want to develop my friendship with you, should I say, hey, wait a moment. This relationship has to be limited? Can we say that? Of course not. But in spite of this relationship, the fact is China didn't provide to Russia any military support. And China actually called for no use of nuclear weapons. These are these are, you know, very clear to people around the world. So Chinese are playing a very responsible role, which are somewhat under appreciated by people so far.

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Tsinghua University's Bo on Xi-Puting Meeting

Zhou Bo, Senior Fellow at Center for International Security and Strategy of Tsinghua University, discusses Xi's visit in Moscow and China's peace initiative for Ukraine. He speaks with David Ingles and Yvonne Man on "Bloomberg Markets: China Open". (Source: Bloomberg)

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