Beijing says China and Russia are “more determined” to strengthen ties

BEIJING (AP/RTR) – After meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in eastern China amid the crisis in Ukraine, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday that Moscow and Beijing are “more determined” to strengthen bilateral ties, develop and enhance cooperation. †

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the two leaders also denounced what it described as illegal and counterproductive Western sanctions imposed on Moscow for its actions in Ukraine.

Wang and Lavrov spoke in east China’s Anhui Province, where China is organizing multilateral meetings on Afghanistan for two days. Read more

“The two sides are more determined to develop bilateral relations, and they are more confident in strengthening cooperation in several areas,” Wang said.

“China is ready to work with Russia to advance China-Russia relations to the next level in a new era in light of the consensus reached by heads of state,” he said.

‘international turmoil’

The meeting comes just over a month after Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine in what it calls a “special operation” that led to unprecedented Western economic sanctions.

Russia is looking to China for support and partnerships as it becomes more isolated from global financial systems and supply chains.

China has refused to condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine or describe it as an invasion. On Wednesday, he reiterated his support for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Lavrov briefed Wang on the conduct of military operations in Ukraine and the state of Moscow’s negotiations with Kyiv.

“Both sides noted the opposite nature of the illegal unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States and its satellites on Russia,” the ministry said in a statement.

She added that the two ministers agreed that Russia and China would continue to strengthen their strategic partnership and speak “with a unified voice” in global affairs.

China’s Foreign Ministry quoted Wang as saying that bilateral relations had “passed the test of international turmoil.”

Lavrov said on Monday that Russia’s relations with China were at their strongest ever.

On the eve of the Winter Olympics in Beijing last month, China and Russia announced a “borderless” strategic partnership.

Reported by Reuters. Editing by Robert Persil and Gareth Jones

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