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President of China Xi Jinping congratulated Vladimir Zelensky on Ukraine's Independence Day for the first time

2025.08.26

He sent the congratulatory telegram a few days before Vladimir Putin's visit to China

President of China Xi Jinping sent a congratulation to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky on Ukraine's Independence Day. Recognizing the recipient as the legitimate head of state, Xi refrains from statements regarding Ukraine's territorial integrity, congratulating the «friendly Ukrainian people». This is the first such congratulation in the history of the two countries, and this step was taken by China ahead of Vladimir Putin's visit, to whom «unlimited partnership» was promised.

«On the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day, I express sincere congratulations and best wishes to you and the friendly Ukrainian people. China and Ukraine have traditional friendly relations. Over the past 33 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Ukraine relations have steadily developed, and cooperation in various fields has yielded excellent results. I am ready to cooperate with you to direct our bilateral relations towards sustainable and long-term development and bring greater benefits to the peoples of both countries», — reads the congratulation, which Vladimir Zelensky posted on his social media account on X.

The Ukrainian leader thanked Xi and «emphasized the interest in developing a long-term bilateral dialogue based on mutual respect and for the sake of peace, stability, and prosperity».

Meanwhile, as Bloomberg notes, Chinese state media, which usually report on Xi's messages to world leaders, did not mention the congratulatory letter to Zelensky.
 

Photo: Reuters

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