Allies discussed the development of the ongoing war in Ukraine and relations between the two countries.
China and Russia are “forever friends, never enemies,” the King, Chinese foreign minister, said in a visit to Moscow that he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
The king welcomed signs of normalizing the tie between Washington and Moscow on Tuesday.
The principle of “Friends Forever, Never Enemies” serves as a solid legal basis for advancing strategic cooperation at a higher level,” Wang told Russia’s RIA news agency in an interview.
Wang is a three-day visit to Moscow for strategic cooperation, a trip covered in uncertainty over consultations to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine, and a trip to secure President Donald Trump’s criticism of Russian and Ukrainian leaders.
China and Russia declared a “unlimited” strategic partnership just days before Putin sent tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine in February 2022.
Chinese national president Xi Jinping has met Putin more than 40 times in the past decade, and the two leaders agreed to deepen issues such as Taiwan, Ukraine and their mutual rivals, becoming mutual rivals in the United States.
The king said that China is ready to play a “constructive role” to end the Ukrainian conflict, but that it will support Russia and defend its “interests.”
At the start of consultations with Lavrov, Wang added:
Putin later expressed his “confidence with the way our relationships are developing” to the King, saying that he strengthened his bonds and that the two countries are pursuing common global and regional interests.
Putin also said that Russia is preparing a “good, complete program” for XI’s iconic and important visit for the victory parade in May. This year marks the 80th anniversary.
The King said that the current global conditions required great powers to act as stabilizing factors, and encouraged Russia and the United States to move to improve relations.
His remarks came the day after the Kremlin said Russia and the United States were working on ideas for the creation of peaceful settlements in Ukraine and bilateral relations.
Since taking office in January, Trump has initially shifted the US to a more reconciliatory stance towards Russia, but recently expressed his anger at Putin’s doubts over his debate on Ukrainian President Voldy Mirzelensky’s legitimacy and his prospects for a new leadership in Ukraine.
The king dismissed the notion that Trump was trying to support Russia to set Russia against China, and condemned ideas such as “an outdated conflict and a recurrence of block thinking.”
The king said the recent Ukrainian ceasefire talks have already brought about several outcomes and should continue despite the difficult circumstances on the battlefield.
“The step towards peace is not that big, but constructive. It’s worth building on it,” Wang said. “In peace, there is no pain or profit. You need to work hard to achieve that.”
XI has been sought for greater involvement in peace negotiations since the beginning of the war, which marked its third anniversary in February.
China has established itself as a neutral party in conflict and, unlike the US and other Western countries, it says it has not sent fatal aid to either side.
However, it was a close political and economic alliance in Russia, with NATO members branding Beijing as the “decisive enabler” of Moscow’s attack.
Beijing proposes in itself and with Brazil, a general principle to end conflicts, but the idea is slippery.
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