NATO leaders said in a declaration from their summit in Washington on Wednesday that China had "become a decisive enabler of Russia's war against Ukraine"

It said Beijing's "so-called 'no limits' partnership" and "large-scale support for Russia's defence industrial base" were of "profound concern".

In response, a spokesperson for Beijing's mission to the European Union said: "NATO should stop hyping up the so-called China threat and provoking confrontation and rivalry, and do more to contribute to world peace and stability."

"It is known to all that China is not the creator (of) the Ukraine crisis. China's position on Ukraine is open and aboveboard," they added.

China has refused to condemn Russia's invasion and last year released a paper calling for a "political settlement" to the conflict, which Western countries said could enable Russia to retain much of the territory it has seized in Ukraine

China and Russia's strategic partnership has grown closer since the invasion.

Beijing presents itself as a neutral party in the war and says it is not sending lethal assistance to either side, unlike the United States and other Western nations.

It has however offered a critical lifeline to Russia's isolated economy, with trade booming since the conflict began.