MOSCOW, April 14 - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in China on Tuesday for a series of talks centered on the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran and on strengthening bilateral ties. State television in Russia broadcast images of Lavrov arriving in Beijing ahead of scheduled meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said it expects "a thorough exchange of views" on several "hot topics" and regional matters, explicitly naming the Ukrainian crisis and the situation in the Middle East as subjects for discussion. The ministry also said the two ministers will examine cooperation between Moscow and Beijing and coordinate approaches to work within multilateral institutions.
According to the ministry's statement, Lavrov and Wang will consider collaboration in forums such as the United Nations, BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the G20, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. The agenda therefore spans both bilateral issues and cooperation in major international organizations.
The visit comes in the context of a closer Russia-China relationship that Moscow and Beijing framed as a "no limits" partnership in February 2022 when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Beijing. That visit occurred days before Russia launched a large-scale military operation in Ukraine, when tens of thousands of troops were sent into that country.
Putin has at times described China as an "ally." In a related development noted by Russia's statement, U.S. intelligence agencies in their annual threat assessment have identified China and Russia as principal competitors to Washington across a broad set of arenas, naming areas from the Arctic and artificial intelligence to space and nuclear weapons.
Images of Lavrov's arrival and the stated agenda indicate a focus on both immediate regional crises and longer-term coordination in multilateral settings. The discussions with Wang Yi are set to address how Moscow and Beijing align on those issues, though the ministry's statement does not specify precise outcomes or agreements expected from the visit.
Details
- Lavrov arrived in Beijing on April 14 and was shown on Russian state television.
- He is expected to hold talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi covering Ukraine, the Middle East, and cooperation in international forums.
- The foreign ministry framed the meetings as a "thorough exchange of views" on multiple regional and global issues.