State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Exchange New Year Congratulatory Messages

Upon the coming of the New Year of 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov exchanged New Year congratulatory messages.

Wang Yi said in his congratulatory message that in the outgoing year, under the personal care and leadership of President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin, China-Russia relations have withstood the test of the profound changes unseen in a century and the global pandemic, and have interpreted the essence of a comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership with practical actions. The smooth extension of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation opens a new journey of "enduring friendship and win-win cooperation" between the two countries. Foreign Minister Lavrov and I issued a joint statement on several current global governance issues and on strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention. The two countries have communicated and coordinated closely in the international arena, together raised the voice of justice in defense of democracy and human rights, and always upheld the right path of true multilateralism, which has injected valuable impetus and confidence into the turbulent world. In the new year, I am ready to stay in close communication with Foreign Minister Lavrov through various manners, fully implement various consensuses reached by the two heads of state, further deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperation in the new era, make concerted efforts to safeguard the common interests of both sides, and make unremitting endeavors to promote the building of a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind.

Lavrov expressed in his congratulatory message that in the outgoing year, Russia and China have been deepening the all-round coordination in international affairs. Against the backdrop of the complicated international situation, the two countries have carried out effective collaboration within the multilateral framework and jointly promoted the resolution of international and regional issues. Despite the constraints of the pandemic, I have maintained regular contacts with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, including four offline meetings, which have further strengthened the role of the "Russia-China team" in international affairs. I often cordially recall the sincere and friendly reception I received from State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during my visit to Guilin in March this year. In the new year, I am ready to maintain the closest collaboration with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and to jointly implement the various consensuses reached by the two heads of state. We are willing to further strengthen mutual coordination with China, further advance bilateral common positions in multilateral mechanisms and platforms, and continue to carry out the counterpart consultations between the two countries' foreign ministries.