MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is set to embark on an official visit to Moscow’s crucial diplomatic and economic partner, China, on Monday and Tuesday, as announced by his ministry in a statement on Sunday.
The statement outlined that during his visit, Lavrov will engage in discussions with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, covering a range of pressing issues, including “the Ukrainian crisis and the situation in the Asia-Pacific region”.
The visit aims to facilitate an in-depth exchange of perspectives on these “burning subjects”, along with broader discussions on bilateral cooperation and international collaboration, the statement added.
In Beijing, China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning confirmed the “official” nature of Lavrov’s visit, highlighting that it was at the invitation of Wang Yi.
The diplomatic relations between Russia and China have grown stronger since Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine began in February 2022.
Lavrov’s upcoming trip underscores the trajectory of closer ties between the two nations, which was exemplified by Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow in March last year, where he emphasized “unlimited friendship” between Moscow and Beijing while criticizing Western hegemony.
Xi and Lavrov met again in October on the sidelines of a Silk Roads forum in Beijing, emphasizing the continual growth of mutual political trust between Russia and China, alongside a shared stance of opposition to the United States.
Following his re-election in March this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted the Russia-China relationship as a “factor of stability”, noting his “very good personal relations” with Xi.
Despite positioning itself as a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict, China has emerged as Russia’s top trading partner over the past two years and advocates for a political resolution to end the hostilities.
Western nations regularly call on Beijing to leverage its influence over Moscow to facilitate peace efforts in Ukraine.
