BEIJING — China's top diplomat met with a senior Moldovan official this week to discuss deepening bilateral ties, even as the two countries hold differing views on Russia's war in Ukraine, according to a statement from Beijing's foreign ministry.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popsoi on Thursday, marking the first visit by a Moldovan foreign minister to China in nearly eight years. The meeting came just after Russian President Vladimir Putin completed a high-profile 24-hour summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Wang told Popsoi that Beijing "cherishes" its traditional friendship with Moldova and stands ready to work with the Eastern European nation to further cement mutual trust, the Chinese foreign ministry readout said. The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis during their discussions.
Popsoi's visit follows a period of heightened diplomatic activity in Beijing, where Putin received a pomp-filled welcome and the two leaders agreed to increase coordination and mutual support between their countries. Moldova, which shares a border with Ukraine, has strongly condemned Russia's invasion and maintains a tense relationship with Moscow over the breakaway region of Transdniestria.
Beijing has avoided condemning Russia's actions in Ukraine or labeling them an invasion, instead consistently calling for a political settlement to the conflict. Wang reiterated this position during his meeting with Popsoi, according to the ministry statement.
Moldova's government has long viewed the presence of roughly 1,500 Russian troops in Transdniestria as a tool for Moscow to exert influence over its internal affairs. The enclave, which declared independence during the Soviet era, receives substantial Russian assistance and remains a point of friction between Chisinau and the Kremlin.
Officials in Moldova are pursuing European Union membership with a target date of 2030, a goal that has shaped the country's foreign policy priorities in recent years. The meeting with Wang provided an opportunity for both sides to discuss areas of potential cooperation despite the ongoing differences over Ukraine.
Chinese state media have portrayed the encounter as a positive step in relations between the two nations, emphasizing Wang's remarks about mutual trust and traditional friendship. The foreign ministry statement concluded by noting that the sides exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis without providing further details on the substance of those discussions.
Popsoi, who also serves as Moldova's deputy prime minister, used the visit to highlight his country's position on regional security matters, according to reports from the meeting. The timing, coming immediately after Putin's summit, drew attention from observers tracking China's balancing act between its close ties with Russia and its outreach to other nations affected by the war.
China has maintained a neutral stance publicly on the Ukraine conflict while expanding economic and diplomatic engagement across Europe and Central Asia. The meeting with Popsoi fits into that broader pattern of outreach, officials said.
Transdniestria has been a frozen conflict zone since the early 1990s, with Russian forces positioned there under an agreement that Moscow sometimes describes as peacekeeping. Moldova's leadership continues to seek a resolution that would remove the foreign military presence from its territory.
Wang's comments during the session focused on the value both countries place on their longstanding relationship, which dates back decades. The Chinese readout avoided any direct reference to specific policy disagreements beyond noting that views on Ukraine were exchanged.
Analysts expect further high-level contacts between China and Moldova as both nations navigate shifting geopolitical alignments in the region. The foreign ministry statement did not announce any new agreements or joint initiatives from the meeting.
Popsoi's trip to Beijing represents an effort by Moldova to diversify its diplomatic partnerships while pursuing its European integration goals. Chinese officials have expressed willingness to explore additional areas of collaboration in the coming months, according to the statement.