China’s foreign minister visits Russia for security talks, meets Putin

Asia-Pacific, Europe, News September 21, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi arrived in Moscow on September 19, 2023, to meet with his Russian counterpart as the two sides discussed strengthening their international cooperation. Wang Yi also met with the Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of his expected visit to Beijing next month.

Member of the Chinese Communist Party Politburo, Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission, and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a bilateral meeting.

Russian foreign ministry said that the two sides discussed the Ukraine war “and noted the futility of attempts to settle the crisis without taking account of Russia’s interests and, more particularly, its participation”. The meeting was part of Wang Yi’s four-day-long journey to Russia. The meeting came at the same time as the world leaders are gathering at the UN headquarters in New York to participate in the UNGA Summit 2023.

The two countries would continue “well-coordinated work” at the UN General Assembly (UNGA), which opened a new session this week, and other summits and high-level meetings, the Russian Foreign Minister told his visiting Chinese counterpart in the opening remarks at the meeting.

Wang said China and Russia should work together on the formation of a “multi-polar world,” adding that the two countries bear a “special responsibility” in terms of maintaining global strategic stability and peace.

During the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to St. Petersburg, Putin recalled this year's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping that facilitated the further development of Russia-China cooperation. Putin is expected to visit China to meet Xi next month pic.twitter.com/jm0yNFbrnF
— RT (@RT_com) September 20, 2023

“In the face of unilateral actions, hegemony, and confrontation, China and Russia should continue to strengthen strategic cooperation and push forward the development of global governance in the direction of greater fairness,” Wang said during the meeting.

The Chinese foreign minister also noted that the China-Russia relationship is not directed against or influenced by any third party. “China and Russia pursue independent foreign policies,” he said.

Wang’s trip to Russia has come shortly after his meeting with the U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. The two officials met in Malta on September 17, to discuss the possibilities of stabilizing relations between Beijing and Washington. The two men had also discussed regional security and the Ukraine war, according to statements put out by the U.S. and China.

Meeting with President Putin

On the second day of his trip, Wang Yi met with the Russian President Vladimir Putin. Wang Yi delivered an invitation to the Russian President to visit China in the coming month, which he accepted. Putin will visit Beijing next month for the Belt and Road Summit.

*^{Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi shaking hands with Russian President Putin. (Image Credit: Kremlin/via Twitter)}*

While speaking after a meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister in Moscow, Putin said Russia and China are “integrating our ideas of creating a large Eurasian space,” noting that China’s Belt and Road Initiative is a part of that.

The Russian President has made very few international trips in recent times, especially after the International Criminal Court (ICC) earlier this year issued an arrest warrant for Putin for his alleged involvement in war crimes.