Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov paid a lightning visit to China on Tuesday. Short though his trip was, but Lavrov discussed a wide range of issues with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and met Chinese President Xi Jinping. Since the Ukraine crisis continues to simmer, Lavrov's visit drew keen attention from the international community.

Lavrov came to Beijing on two missions. The first one was to do some prep work for Russian President Vladimir Putin's China visit next month. The second one, which is also the real priority, was to guarantee both nations are communicating effectively over the Ukraine crisis.

Lavrov's steps came right after his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who visited China from Saturday to Monday. The visits of these two heavyweights, each of whom represents a powerful stakeholder in the Ukraine crisis, have placed China in a special position in this conflict.

As a permanent UN Security Council member, China is probably the most important force that both Russia and the West want to rope in. In mid-March when the US-sponsored UN resolution on Crimea was put to a vote, China abstained. This sole abstention vote made China, a peripheral nation in this crisis, play a unique role as a lever.

There are voices blaming China for not acting responsibly as a global power in the Ukraine crisis. It seems that China is keeping itself out of the affair by abstaining and declaring an ambiguous stand. In fact, China is not 100 percent neutral in this issue, and it has already shown its inclination in an implicit way, which is supporting Russia by choosing not to go against it.

Meanwhile, it must be noted that China can see the general picture and has employed a more delicate and smarter diplomacy. Beijing is fully aware that picking sides is the last option it wants to take. This may not only put China's national interests into high risks, but also exacerbate the already intense situation, given China's close partnership with Russia and highly favorable economic relations with the EU and the US.

China knows that the complexity of the Ukraine crisis, which has intertwined so many elements including domestic affairs, geopolitical hegemony, and historical and ethnic issues, makes any involvement from a third party sensitive.

The bitter crisis offers China both challenges and opportunities. But it's worth the risk for China to involve and make a difference when the time is right.

The EU, Russia, Ukraine and the US start "four-party talks" Thursday in Geneva. This is the first time that the four major stakeholders get together at a negotiating table, showing that seeking a diplomatic and political resolution is still their first choice. But it could be anticipated that this meeting is unlikely to produce any solid agreements, since all of them have vested interests in this issue and will not compromise. The talks need another party involved as a powerful and uninterested mediator.

When the four-party talks end in deadlock, it is probably the right time for China to propose a more positive framework by inviting the four parties to Beijing to explore more possibilities to address the crisis.

A Beijing-based talk could be the first step for China to involve, and China is able and qualified to play the role as a mediator. But from a general view, no negotiations can function well if Ukraine, the pivot of this crisis, continues to act ruthlessly and go to extremes. It is time that Ukraine should readjust its position and weigh the interests of all the other stakeholders.

If Kiev cannot stabilize its domestic political situation, this will only cause more tensions at the negotiation table.

The article was compiled by Global Times reporter Liu Zhun based on an interview with Li Xing, director of Eurasian Studies Center and professor of the School of Government, Beijing Normal University. liuzhun@globaltimes.com.cn