Wang Yi meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

On June 10, 2024 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Nizhny Novgorod.

Noting that President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to China was a great success, Wang Yi said that both sides should fully implement the important common understandings reached between the top leaders of the two countries and advance cooperation in various fields under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state. Developing China-Russia relations is a strategic choice made by both sides based on their respective fundamental interests. It conforms to global trends and the tide of the times, is not targeted at any third party, and will not be disturbed by external forces. China is willing to work with Russia to maintain strategic focus, explore cooperation potential, respond to external pressures, and promote the sound and sustained progress in bilateral relations.

Wang Yi said BRICS is an important platform for unity and cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries. The expanded BRICS mechanism will play a crucial and important role in creating a more just and reasonable global governance system. China is ready to fully support Russia's work as the BRICS chair, work with Russia to consolidate the BRICS strategic partnership, seek strength through unity for the Global South, make a stronger voice for upholding multilateralism and advancing common development, so as to set greater BRICS cooperation off to a good start.

Sergey Lavrov said that during President Putin's visit to China, the two heads of state jointly set the course for developing Russia-China relations, and achieved new strategic cooperation results. Russia is ready to work with China to follow through on the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, intensify high-level exchanges, strengthen cooperation in various fields, and jointly make the Russia-China Years of Culture a success. Russia is willing to closely cooperate with China on multilateral platforms including the United Nations Security Council, and enhance diplomatic coordination. The number of like-minded countries continues to increase in international and regional affairs while BRICS expansion reflects this positive trend. He expected in-depth discussions on the next stage of cooperation at the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting to make political preparations for the BRICS summit in Kazan.

The two sides had a further exchange of views on the current international and regional situations as well as the Ukraine crisis, among others.