China promises Lavrov to strengthen cooperation with Russia

The Chinese and Russian Foreign Ministers, Wang Yi and Sergueï Lavrov, called Tuesday à Beijing à strengthen bilateral strategic cooperation, a further deepening of diplomatic ties despite the crisis. the war in Ukraine.

Beijing and Moscow have intensified their economic and military cooperation in recent years and their “strategic partnership” has only strengthened since the invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022.

At the end of a two-day visit to China, Sergei Lavrov met Tuesday afternoon with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“We “We would like to express our greatest gratitude and admiration for the successes you have achieved over the years and, above all, over the last decade under your leadership,” Lavrov told his host, according to news agencies. Russians.

During a bilateral meeting earlier Tuesday, Wang Yi promised the head of Russian diplomacy, in office since 2004, that “China will support the development stability of Russia under the leadership of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin”.

“Beijing and Moscow will continue to strengthen strategic cooperation on the global stage and provide each other with strong support,” added the Chinese minister, according to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (d) and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on April 9, 2024 in Beijing © Russian Foreign Ministry – Handout

“I believe that under the firm leadership of President Putin, the Russian people will have a bright future,” Wang Yi continued, according to Russian media Izvestia.

< p>– “Deep trust” –

For his part, in a video published by Izvestia on Telegram, Sergei Lavrov thanked Xi Jinping for his “congratulations” sent to Vladimir Putin after his recent re-election, in a vote in which no real rival was able to stand.

“The election results confirmed the deep confidence of the Russian people in our leader and in current domestic and foreign policies,” added Mr. Lavrov, according to RIA Novosti.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) toasts with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during a reception at the Kremlin, March 21, 2023 in Moscow © SPUTNIK – Pavel Byrkin

In March 2023, Xi Jinping visited Moscow, reaffirming with Vladimir Putin “a limitless friendship” between their countries, brought together by their common denunciation of what they present as Western hegemony on the international scene.

According to many analysts, China, through its economic and diplomatic power, nevertheless has the ascendancy over a Russia isolated by the West.

Despite this asymmetry, Beijing's support allows Moscow to “continue the war by providing what is necessary for the Russian war machine”, Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia center, told AFP .

“The integration of Russia's economy, brain power and military technology into a Chinese-led order, with Eurasia at its core geographic heart, is the only way for Russia to sustain its confrontation with the West,” he wrote this week in Foreign Policy magazine.

The United States regularly warns China against indirectly aiding the Russian war effort and urges it to use its influence over Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine.

– “Illegal sanctions” –

During a joint press conference with Wang Yi after their bilateral talks, Sergei Lavrov denounced Tuesday the “sanctions illegal “Western” attacks against his country.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (l) and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, April 9, 2024 in Beijing © Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Handout

“This policy is being actively applied also against (China)” in order to hinder its “economic and technological development opportunities” and “eliminate competitors”, he said. -he accused.

For his part, Wang Yi defended the association between Beijing and Moscow.

“As permanent members of the UN Security Council and emerging great powers, China and Russia must clearly stand on the side of historical progress, fairness and justice,” he said. in front of the press.

“We must oppose any hegemony, tyranny or intimidation, the Cold War mentality and any incitement to division and confrontation “, he said.

Wang Yi also claimed to have discussed Ukraine with his Russian counterpart.

“China will always play a constructive role on the international scene and in multilateral affairs, without ever adding fuel to the fire, much less taking advantage of it,” he assured.

Beijing calls for respect for the territorial integrity of all states, including Ukraine, but has never publicly condemned Moscow for its military operation.

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