Wang Yi, Lavrov vow to strengthen ties in Moscow talks

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China is willing to work with Russia to jointly push forward the development of bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields during his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, is on a three-day official visit to Russia from Monday to Wednesday.

Noting this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victories in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, Wang said the Chinese and Russian peoples defeated Japanese militarism and German fascism, defended human conscience and won world peace at the cost of their life and blood. 

China is ready to work with Russia to shoulder its special responsibility as a UN Security Council permanent member, remove interference, stick to the right path, safeguard the outcome of World War II victory, international fairness and justice, move the world toward multipolarity and democracy in international relations, and make new contributions to the cause of peace and development of mankind, Wang said.

The Chinese foreign minister also expressed hope that China-Russia comprehensive strategic coordination in the new era will gain new vitality and enter a new stage.

Lavrov also spoke highly of Russia-China relationship during the meeting, saying Russia-China relations have reached an unprecedented high level.

Noting Russia and China have a time-honored tradition of good-neighborliness and friendship, a long shared border and extensive common interests, Lavrov said Russia is willing to work with China to push for new achievements in Russia-China relations.

As this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, Lavrov said Russia and China should work closely together to inject stability into the nowadays complex world.

Lavrov said Russia highly appreciates the China-proposed global initiatives, fully supports China's position on the Taiwan question, and is willing to jointly safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, a just and reasonable international order, and never allow the resurgence of Nazism and militarism.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Lavrov said that Russia focuses on eliminating the root causes of the crisis and is committed to building a lasting Eurasian security architecture. Wang elaborated on China's consistent position, saying that China supports all efforts conducive to peace, is willing to continue to build international consensus for peace through the "Friends of Peace" platform and play a constructive role in promoting the political settlement of the crisis.

The two sides also agreed to strengthen coordination between the two foreign ministries, ensure the success of the China-Russia Cultural Year, enrich cultural exchanges and enhance friendship between both peoples, as well as strengthen coordination and cooperation within the frameworks of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, G20 and the United Nations to jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of countries in the Global South.