BEIJING, Dec 25 (AFP) - Foreign Minister Wang Yi has defended China’s stance on the war in Ukraine and suggested that it would deepen ties with Russia in the year ahead, as he hailed the “historic strides forward” in Chinese-Arab relations.

Speaking by video to a conference in the Chinese capital, Wang on Sunday also blamed the United States for the deterioration in relations between the world’s two largest economies, saying that Beijing has “firmly rejected” Washington’s “erroneous China policy”.

China has pushed back against Western pressure on trade, technology, human rights and its claims to a broad swath of the Western Pacific, accusing the US of bullying.

Its refusal to condemn the invasion of Ukraine and join others in imposing sanctions on Russia has further frayed ties and fuelled an emerging divide with much of Europe.

“With regard to the Ukraine crisis, we have consistently upheld the fundamental principles of objectivity and impartiality, without favouring one side or the other, or adding fuel to the fire, still less seeking selfish gains from the situation,” Wang said, according to an official text of his remarks.

He added China would “deepen strategic mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation” with Russia. Warships from the two countries held joint naval drills in the East China Sea last week.

Wang said bilateral trade between the two countries is approaching the $200bn target “at a faster pace”, adding that major investment projects are well under way.