Chinese FM meets Russian counterpart in Brazil, vows to uphold UN Charter and defend multilateralism
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Rio de Janeiro on Monday local time, calling on strengthening coordination within the BRICS framework in face of intense competition between unilateralism and multilateralism.
There have been many new changes in the international situation recently. Change is the norm of this era, but what remains unchanged is the mutual trust and support between China and Russia, Wang said, according to a readout on the website of Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The strategic leadership of President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin has always been the fundamental guarantee for maintaining high-level operation of China-Russia relations. Both sides should work together to continuously translate the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state into cooperation achievements in various fields, Wang noted.
The current rivalry between unilateralism and multilateralism is intensifying, and the contest between maintaining hegemony and opposing hegemony is unfolding around the world. The unity and cooperation of BRICS countries are demonstrating increasingly significant strategic value, Wang said.
As founding members of BRICS, China and Russia should strengthen coordination and cooperation within the BRICS framework, deepen solidarity and cooperation among the vast number of developing countries and emerging economies, continuously enhance the influence and appeal of the Greater BRICS, inject strong impetus into the development and prosperity of the world, and contribute more BRICS strength to building a more just and equitable global governance system.
"The growth and strengthening of the BRICS organization have been largely driven by the active efforts of China and Russia. Therefore, communication at the level of foreign ministers plays an important role in improving the BRICS mechanism and enhancing cooperation among its members," Zhang Hong, a research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
The discussions also touched on issues related to the construction of the BRICS framework and the integration of cooperation, which will help lay a more solid foundation for the organization's future development, Zhang said.
Against the backdrop of US tariff hikes, which pose severe challenges to global order, the bilateral high-level dialogue between China and Russia aims to strengthen coordination in international affairs and enhance communication and mutual support in global and regional governance, Zhang noted.
Sergei Lavrov said that in the face of a rapidly changing world, it is essential for Russia and China to maintain close interactions. Russia is willing to work with China to prepare for the next phase of important exchanges between the two heads of state, support each other in hosting commemorative events for the 80th anniversary of the victories of the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War and the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and deepen practical cooperation in various fields.
Lavrov noted that as major countries with special international responsibilities, Russia and China have joined hands to uphold the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, defend justice and equality, and resist unilateralism and bullying, making positive contributions to upholding multilateralism.
Both sides should jointly support Brazil in fulfilling its responsibilities as the chair of the BRICS mechanism and work for more positive outcomes in BRICS cooperation, Lavrov said.
Lavrov also briefed on the latest situation of the Ukraine crisis, reiterating that Russia is willing to engage in peace talks with Ukraine without preconditions and is committed to addressing the root cause of the crisis. Russia also announced a temporary ceasefire covering the entire front line around the May 9 Victory Day.
Wang Yi elaborated on China's principled position of promoting talks for peace.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday announced a three-day truce starting from midnight May 8, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday.
The Kremlin said that Putin had ordered a full cessation of hostilities to mark the 80th anniversary of Russia's Victory Day, which falls on May 9, Xinhua said.
During the meeting, the two sides conducted strategic communication on strengthening cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the G20, and exchanged views on issues such as the Iranian nuclear issue and the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.