According to Xinhua, Chinese leader Xi Jinping held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing on Tuesday. State media did not immediately provide details of the meeting.
Lavrov is currently on a two-day visit to the Chinese capital. This visit follows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent suggestion of considering China for his first foreign trip following his re-election victory last month, as reported by CNN.
This meeting represents the first direct discussion between Lavrov and Xi in six years, a notable development given that heads of state typically do not directly meet with visiting ministers. Their previous encounter in 2018 took place just before Putin’s inaugural visit to China following his re-election.
While Beijing asserts its neutrality in the conflict, it has become a significant economic ally for Russia, offering essential assistance to its isolated economy. Additionally, the two nations have forged diplomatic alignment against perceived Western containment efforts.
Putin, contemplating his inaugural overseas trip for his new term, hinted at the prospect of visiting China in response to a suggestion from a Russian lawmaker. However, the Kremlin has not yet confirmed any travel arrangements.
Putin’s most recent trip to Beijing took place in October during the Belt and Road Forum, while Xi paid a state visit to Moscow in March of the preceding year, as reported by CNN.
Earlier today, Lavrov held discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Following their meeting, Wang emphasized the countries’ strengthened ties, describing them as reaching “the highest level in history.” He also hinted at their shared stance on the United States, stating they would “oppose a Cold War mentality,” as conveyed during a joint news conference following their meeting, as cited by Chinese state media.
Discussions between Lavrov and Wang addressed the conflict in Ukraine, with both sides agreeing that international meetings on the issue that disregard Moscow’s interests are ineffective, as reported by the Russian state news agency TASS.
Wang informed his counterpart that China backs the idea of convening an international peace conference “recognized by both Russia and Ukraine,” with “equal participation by all parties and where all peace plans are discussed fairly,” according to a spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
These remarks come amid ongoing efforts to address the Ukrainian conflict. Previous peace conferences, largely endorsed by Kyiv and excluding Moscow, have failed to gain significant traction. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s peace proposal calls for the complete withdrawal of Russian troops.
While China has engaged in discussions with Switzerland regarding an upcoming peace conference, it has emphasized the importance of such talks being acknowledged by both Ukraine and Russia, as reported by CNN.
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