SIMIC

The remarks came from Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin recently in response to a question about a Bloomberg News report that Chinese diplomats are seeking details about complying with sanctions. Mr Wang reiterated that China would take necessary measures to safeguard what it sees as its legitimate rights and interests.

"The current issue is not any country wanting to help Russia circumvent the sanctions, but rather there has been unnecessary damage to the normal trade exchange with Russia, including between China and Russia," Mr Wang told a regular news briefing in Beijing. "We urge the US to seriously treat China's concerns while handling the Ukraine issue and relations with Russia and refrain from harming China's legitimate rights and interests."

Chinese companies and government officials are rushing to find out how to comply with US-led sanctions on Russia, easing concerns in the Biden administration that Beijing will help Vladimir Putin evade them. Requests by Chinese diplomats in Washington for granular details on the sanctions have encouraged US officials, even though they remain wary that China may simply be looking for loopholes to help Russia, according to people familiar with the situation.

Mr Wang sidestepped a question about US President Joe Biden's remarks in a speech in Warsaw that Putin "cannot remain in power," only reiterating Beijing's call for "all parties" to act with responsibility and play a constructive role.