'Russia, China show unity, readiness to defend each other's interests'

MOSCOW

Russia and China show unity, readiness to defend each other's interests based on respect for international law and the central role of the UN, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a meeting with China's highest ranked diplomat Wang Yi, Lavrov said Moscow and Beijing continue close coordination in foreign policy and advocate the formation of a more open, democratic, fair system of international relations.

"The vast majority of countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are interested in this, they do not accept attempts to impose a confrontational agenda on them or to restrain the development of states that show independence and rely on national interests.

"I am sure that we will continue to move along this path, which is objective and conditioned by history itself," he stressed.

Wang, the former Chinese foreign minister and currently director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party, said no matter what post he assumes, he will continue promoting the development of the Russian-Chinese ties.

He said thanks to efforts by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, Russian-Chinese relations are evolving dynamically.

Despite the changeable international situation, Russia and Chine continue supporting the formation of multipolar world and opposing unilateral sanctions, he added.

"No matter how the situation changes, China will continue to contribute together with Russia to preserving positive development of relations among big states," he stressed.

Xi and Putin met in person in China ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics last year, and announced a “no limits” partnership.

Beijing has not directly supported Russia’s war on Ukraine, which started last February, but has condemned the West’s sanctions on Moscow.