The United States has revived its notorious McCarthyism and outdated Cold War mentality in its policy toward China and deliberately provoked ideological confrontation, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday. 

Wang stressed that the U.S. is practicing its policy of stark "America First" and pursuing its egoism, unilateralism and bullying policy to the extreme. 

By shifting its own responsibilities, the U.S. has used the COVID-19 pandemic to smear other countries and shift the blame in every possible way, and even created hot spots and confrontation in international relations, he said, adding that Washington has lost its sense of reason, morality and credibility.

China will not be misled by a small number of anti-China forces in the United States, but will firmly defend its legitimate interests and dignity, he said. 

With the worsening of ties between the world's largest and second largest economies, Wang warned last week that China-U.S. relations were facing the most serious challenges since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1979. 

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In his phone call with Lavrov, Wang said China and Russia should stand by all countries with an objective and fair stance to reject any actions destructive to international order and against historical trend, jointly safeguard world peace and stability, maintain the international justice and preserve global development. 

The strategic guidance of the two heads of state is the biggest political advantage of China-Russia relations, Wang said. 
  
After Russia successfully carried out a referendum last week, the two heads of state spoke to each other again by phone, confirming their firm support for each other and stressing that they regard the China-Russia relations as the top foreign policy priority of the two countries, he said.

The two sides should deepen anti-COVID-19 and practical cooperation and strengthen strategic coordination in major international and regional affairs, he stressed. 

Lavrov said Russia is willing to follow the guidance of the consensus reached by the two heads of state, support the strengthening of pragmatic cooperation between Russia and China in the context of the regular epidemic prevention and control, and promote the synergy between the Eurasian Economic Union and the construction of the Belt and Road. 

As permanent members of the UN Security Council and major responsible countries, Russia and China should further strengthen coordination and cooperation in international affairs and safeguard international law and common interests of the two countries, Lavrov said. 
  
He said that the United States has always believed in the American exceptionalism and egotism, adding it recently stripped off its pretense and was ready to threaten or wield sanctions against others. 
  
Russia opposes unilateralism in international affairs, he said. 

(With input from Xinhua)