Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday warned against smearing China over the Ukraine conflict, insisting that Beijing was playing a “positive role” trying to find a peaceful solution to Russia’s invasion.

“We oppose using the Ukraine crisis to cast blame, smear a third country and incite a new Cold War,” Xi told reporters during a joint news conference alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.

“We are not watching the fire from the sidelines, we have always been playing a positive role in achieving peace.