Sergey Lavrov and Wang Yi reaffirm course of strategic partnership between Russia and China

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The talks were broadcast on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website.

"Russia and China are united not only by historical brotherhood, but also by centuries-old traditions of good neighbourliness and broad commonality of national interests," Lavrov said.

He also recalled Wang Yi's recent speech, in which the Chinese minister emphasised that the strategic partnership between Russia and China "is a constant, not a variable."

Lavrov expressed confidence that during the talks the sides would agree on further development of bilateral relations, especially in the context of preparations for the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"We will agree on further coordination in the UN, its Security Council, the SCO, BRICS, the G20, in work with ASEAN and other multilateral platforms"

Sergey Lavrov Russian Foreign Minister

Wang Yi, for his part, noted that Putin and Xi Jinping have already held talks twice this year.

"We, as foreign ministries, have a very important task: to realise the agreements at the highest level, to jointly advance relations between the two countries and multifaceted cooperation for the benefit of our peoples," he said.

The Chinese minister also agreed with Lavrov's recent comment about the unprecedentedly high level of Russia-China relations.

"We already had a conversation yesterday. Today, I am ready to comprehensively synchronise our watches together with you and strengthen our strategic coordination and make the best preparations for high-level contacts"

Wang Yi Chinese Foreign Minister

Earlier, Putin invited foreign leaders of the BRICS countries to Moscow to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, which will be held in May 2025.

Among the confirmed participants are Chinese President Xi Jinping and Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko. The leaders of Indonesia, Venezuela and Kazakhstan, Prabowo Subianto, Nicolas Maduro and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, respectively, have also received invitations.

Ethiopia's representatives are also expected to attend: President Taye Atske Selassie or Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Photo: Aleksandra Stolyarova / TV BRICS