Chinese, Russian foreign ministers discuss bilateral ties, Ukraine crisis

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro on Monday to discuss key issues in bilateral relations and the ongoing Ukraine crisis.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that while the international situation is rapidly changing, the mutual trust and support between China and Russia remain unchanged. He highlighted the strategic leadership of both countries and said the two sides must continue to work together to boost cooperation in various areas.

Wang also underscored the growing strategic value of BRICS unity and cooperation amid current global situation. He noted that China and Russia, as founding members of BRICS, should strengthen coordination within the BRICS framework, deepen cooperation among developing countries and emerging economies, continuously enhance the influence of the BRICS Plus, and inject strong momentum into global development and prosperity, contributing to a more just and equitable global governance system.

Lavrov, for his part, stressed the necessity of maintaining close interaction between Russia and China in response to the rapidly changing global landscape. He expressed Russia's willingness to work with China in preparing for important exchanges between the two heads of state in the next stage, and noted their mutual support for commemorating the 80th anniversaries of the Soviet Union's victory in the Great Patriotic War and the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

The Russian foreign minister also emphasized Russia's commitment to maintaining international order, upholding the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and resisting unilateral bullying.

Regarding the Ukraine crisis, Lavrov provided an update on the situation and reaffirmed Russia's readiness to engage in unconditional peace talks with Ukraine, focusing on addressing the root causes of the crisis. He also announced that Russia would implement a temporary ceasefire around May 9, the date marking the Soviet Union's victory in the Great Patriotic War. Wang reiterated China's principled stance on promoting peace and dialogue.

Additionally, the two ministers discussed enhancing cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the G20. They also exchanged views on issues related to Iran's nuclear program and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.