Xi urges Ukraine to launch inclusive dialogues asap

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called on Ukraine to launch inclusive dialogues at an early date so as to reach a comprehensive political settlement of the crisis in the East European country.[Special coverage]

Xi made the remarks during a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, here ahead of the 14th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

China stands for resolving the Ukraine crisis through political means, said Xi, stressing that relevant parties should "trace to the source" and solve the crisis at its root.

For his part, Putin briefed Xi on Russia's views and stances on the Ukraine crisis.

Putin said that Russia attaches importance to and appreciates China's stances and proposals on the Ukraine issue and is willing to maintain communication with China.

A cease-fire deal between Ukraine's government and insurgent leadership inked last week in Belarus is generally taking hold in Ukraine's restive east. The truce is expected to pave the way for a political solution to the Ukraine crisis and a permanent end to the bloodshed in eastern Ukraine.

Clashes between Ukrainian government troops and independence-seeking militias, which started in mid-April, have claimed about 3,000 lives, with hundreds of thousands of others displaced.