China’s top diplomat Wang Yi met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday, Chinese state media CGTN reported.
AFP reports that talks were held at the Diaoyutai state guesthouse on the eve of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing.
The two countries’ diplomats also met in Moscow in September. At that time, Wang Yi welcomed the “strategic co-operation” between Russia and China and their shared commitment to a “fairer world order”. Wang Yi noted “the importance of Russian-Chinese co-operation for ensuring justice in world affairs, for balancing interests in processes developing along a variety of paths,” Al Jazeera reported.
The TASS news agency reported that the topic of the diplomats’ meeting was the conflict in the Middle East. They also touched upon the war in Ukraine and the possibility of its resolution by “political and diplomatic methods”.
After meeting with Wang, Sergey Lavrov said that China’s Belt and Road Initiative would promote cooperation in the Eurasia region. Vladimir Putin will visit China with the aim of strengthening the partnership between Russia and China “without restrictions”. During his first visit outside Russia this year, Putin will also attend the Belt and Road Forum, which will be held on 17 and 18 October.
