(Beijing) China is ready to “deepen” its exchanges with Russia “at all levels” and “resolutely supports” Moscow in the difficulties, assured the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.
Posted at 1:04 p.m.
Despite tumultuous relations during the Cold War, Beijing and Moscow have come much closer in recent years to counterbalance the United States.
The Chinese power has thus never condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and blames the conflict on the United States and NATO.
On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated his country’s support for Russia, despite Western criticism.
“China firmly supports the Russian side. […] to overcome difficulties and eliminate outside interference,” Wang Yi told his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in a phone conversation.
The report of the exchange, quoted by the Chinese public television CCTV, does not explicitly mention Ukraine.
“China is willing to deepen exchanges with Russia at all levels,” Mr. Wang assured his interlocutor.
These remarks are the first since the renewal Sunday for a third term of Chinese President Xi Jinping at the head of the most populous country on the planet.
Last month, Mr. Xi reaffirmed his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite the disappointments of his army in Ukraine.
China is ready to work with Moscow for mutual support of their “fundamental interests”, Xi Jinping said at the time.
Wang Yi had meanwhile met his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kouleba in September, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
It was their first public meeting since the beginning of the Russian military intervention at the end of February.
A sign that China, officially neutral, but sometimes considered too conciliatory with Moscow by Westerners, seems to want to balance its position more.