China backs ‘balanced, fully implemented’ Black Sea Grain Initiative

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – China on Monday backed a "fully implemented" Black Sea Grain Initiative.

"China hopes that the Black Sea Grain Initiative will continue to be balanced and fully implemented," said Mao Ning, spokeswoman of China's Foreign Ministry.

Mao said China has also put forward its initiatives for international food security cooperation, Beijing-based daily Global Times reported.

"The Chinese side is willing to enhance communication and collaboration with all parties to foster more international consensus and ensure global food security," Mao said.

A year ago, Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which had been paused after the Russia-Ukraine war began that February.

The agreement is expected to expire today if an extension is not granted.

A Joint Coordination Center was set up in Istanbul with officials from the three countries and the UN to oversee the shipments.

However, Russian officials have strongly hinted that this month they could block the extension of the grain deal, complaining that parts of the deal to allow Russian exports have gone unfulfilled.