China and Russia promised Tuesday in Beijing to strengthen their cooperation, the head of Russian diplomacy Sergei Lavrov speaking with President Xi Jinping, a new sign of rapprochement despite the war in Ukraine.
Beijing and Moscow have intensified their economic, diplomatic and military cooperation in recent years and their “strategic partnership” has been consolidated since the invasion of Ukraine at the end of February 2022.
Following a two-day official visit to China, Sergei Lavrov met with Xi Jinping on Tuesday afternoon.
“We would like to express our greatest gratitude and admiration for the successes you have achieved over the years,” the minister told his host, according to Russian news agencies.
For his part, Xi Jinping indicated that China attached “great importance” to Sino-Russian relations and was willing to work “closely with Russia” to strengthen their bilateral contacts and coordination on the international scene, according to the Chinese state television CCTV.
The Chinese president also assured that he and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin “agreed to maintain close exchanges” to ensure the stable development of bilateral relations.
Before Sergei Lavrov, Xi Jinping also called on Beijing and Moscow to “unite the countries of the ‘global South'”, which includes in particular the South American and African nations, as well as to “promote reform of the global governance system”.
During a meeting on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had already promised his Russian counterpart that “China will support Russia’s stable development under the leadership of (Vladimir) Putin.”
“Weight support”
“Beijing and Moscow will continue to strengthen strategic cooperation on the global stage and provide each other with strong support,” added the Chinese minister, according to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
For his part, in a video published by the Russian media Izvestia on Telegram, Sergei Lavrov thanked Xi Jinping for his quick “congratulations” sent to Vladimir Putin after his recent re-election, during an election in which no real rival was able to to present oneself.
China and Russia have grown closer because of their common denunciation of what they present as Western hegemony on the international stage.
According to many analysts, China, through its economic and diplomatic power, however, has the ascendancy over a Russia isolated by the West.
Despite this asymmetry, Beijing’s support allows Moscow to “continue the war by providing what is necessary for the Russian war machine,” Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia center, told AFP.
“Integrating Russia’s economy, brainpower and military technology into a China-led order, with Eurasia at its geographic heart, is the only way for Russia to sustain its confrontation with the West,” he wrote this week in the magazine Foreign Policy.
The United States regularly warns China against indirectly aiding the Russian war effort and urges it to use its influence over Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine.
“Illegal sanctions”
During a joint press conference with Wang Yi after their bilateral talks, Sergei Lavrov denounced on Tuesday the Western “illegal sanctions” against his country.
“This policy is being actively applied also against (China)” in order to hinder its “economic and technological development opportunities” and “to eliminate competitors,” he accused.
For his part, Wang Yi defended the association between Beijing and Moscow.
“As permanent members of the UN Security Council and emerging great powers, China and Russia must clearly stand on the side of historical progress, fairness and justice,” he said. in front of the press.
“We must oppose any hegemony, tyranny or intimidation, the Cold War mentality and any incitement to division and confrontation,” he said.
Wang Yi also claimed to have discussed Ukraine with his Russian counterpart.
“China will always play a constructive role on the international stage and in multilateral affairs, without ever adding fuel to the fire, let alone taking advantage of it,” he assured.
Beijing calls for respect for the territorial integrity of all states, including Ukraine, but has never publicly condemned Moscow for its military operation.