China praises relations with Russia ahead G20 talks

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has praised China’s relations with Russia saying both countries have maintained normal exchanges and promoted cooperation in various fields showing the strong resilience and strategic resolve of their relations.

Wang Yi met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov Thursday on the sidelines of a G20 summit to discuss the most pressing global issues on Friday, with the Ukraine war at the top of the agenda, in Bali, Indonesia.

Wang also told Lavrov that China will support all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis, according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry on Friday.

Despite criticism, Beijing has upheld friendly ties with Russia as Western nations have sought to isolate President Vladimir Putin’s government from the global financial and diplomatic order over the military assault on its neighbour.

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Lavrov informed Wang “about the implementation of the main missions of the special military operation” in Ukraine and reiterated Moscow’s rhetoric that its aim is to “denazify” the country, a Russian foreign ministry statement said.

“Both parties underlined the unacceptable nature of unilateral sanctions adopted by circumventing the UN.” The statement added.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Bali late on Thursday and will hold bilateral talks with Wang on Saturday.

But he will shun a direct meeting with his Russian counterpart even though they are set for their first showdown since the outbreak of war in February.

Blinken last saw Lavrov in January in Geneva, where the top US diplomat warned Russia of massive consequences if it went ahead and invaded Ukraine, which it did on February 24.

Washington has argued Russia should no longer be a member of the international forum, a position echoed by some Western allies.

The Russian foreign ministry said Lavrov and Wang stressed “the need for the maintenance and development of the G20” in their meeting.

France24/Zainab Sa’id