Wang Yi Meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

On February 22, 2023 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.

Wang Yi noted that under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era continues to operate at a high level. In the face of profound changes in the international landscape, China and Russia have always maintained strategic resolve, adhered to the general direction of building a multipolar world, advocated and practiced true multilateralism, opposed unilateral and bullying actions in any form, firmly safeguarded their respective sovereignty, security and development interests, actively explored and followed the development path in line with their national conditions, and constantly tapped the growth potential of cooperation in various fields. No matter how the international situation changes, China is willing to maintain a good development momentum of a new type of major-country relations with Russia.

Wang Yi said this year marks the beginning of full implementation of the guiding principles laid down at the 20th CPC National Congress. China will continue to follow an independent foreign policy, pursue a win-win strategy of opening up, and provide new opportunities to the world with its new development. The process of Chinese modernization will open up new prospects for and further enrich its cooperation with other countries, including Russia. China is willing to work together with Russia to coordinate high-level exchanges, and restart dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, and push for greater development of bilateral relations.

Lavrov noted that Russia attaches great importance to Russia-China relations, and is ready to join hands with China to implement the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state and continuously consolidate and develop the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. Russia hopes that the two sides will comprehensively restart exchanges in various fields and push for greater progress in pragmatic cooperation between the two countries. Russia is ready to strengthen coordination with China in the international arena, firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, and promote more open, reasonable and just development of the international order, which is also the historical responsibility of the two countries.

The two sides agreed to strengthen coordination at the United Nations and other multilateral mechanisms, jointly uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and firmly oppose hegemony and bloc confrontation.

The two sides also had an in-depth discussion on the Ukraine issue. Wang Yi stressed that the more complicated the situation is, the more important it is not to give up peace efforts. He expressed the hope that all parties could overcome difficulties, continue to create conditions for dialogue and negotiations and seek an effective way for a political settlement.