Wang Yi Meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

On July 28, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) foreign ministers' meeting in Tashkent.

Wang Yi said, in the face of the current severe and complex international situation, China and Russia, as two major countries and permanent members of the UN Security Council, should strengthen strategic communication in a timely manner, which will help show the basic momentum of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, promote the sound and steady development of China-Russia relations, uphold and practice true multilateralism and push for a just and equitable international order.

Wang Yi said, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the SCO Charter and the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Among the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which is of great significance in building on past achievements and working for fresh progress. China is ready to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with Russia and other member states to make the SCO a strong pillar for defending international fairness and justice, a stabilizing factor for maintaining regional and world peace, and an important engine for promoting global recovery from the pandemic.

Lavrov said, "Time reveals a person's integrity." Russia-China relations have withstood the test of international changes and fully demonstrated the traditional friendship and strategic mutual trust between the two countries. Russia is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with China and advance practical cooperation in various fields. The two sides should continue to strengthen coordination on multilateral affairs, uphold the central role of the United Nations in international affairs, safeguard the international order underpinned by international law, and support developing countries in upholding independence.

The two sides spoke highly of the development of the SCO and will jointly support Uzbekistan in hosting the meeting of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers, jointly push for positive outcomes of the meeting and make preparations for the Samarkand Summit. The two sides will explore ways to optimize the functioning of the SCO and advance the SCO membership expansion process in an orderly manner.

The two sides believe that the SCO, which brings together major food and energy producers and consumers, needs to strengthen coordination, build consensus and jointly play a constructive role in addressing global food and energy security challenges.

The two sides agreed to deepen the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union to promote regional connectivity and common development.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Afghan issue and agreed to enhance communication and coordination, make good use of the Foreign Ministers' Meeting among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan and other multilateral cooperation mechanisms related to Afghanistan to help Afghanistan achieve lasting peace and stability.