China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, reassured Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of China’s steadfast and impartial stance on the Ukraine crisis during a late Monday phone call. The two officials emphasized the strong and reliable friendship between the two countries, countering any notion of a rift stemming from recent discussions in Jeddah.
Wang Yi, also a member of the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) Central Committee’s Political Bureau, highlighted the progress in strategic and practical cooperation since President Xi Jinping’s March visit to Russia. He underscored heightened bilateral trade, energy collaborations, and rejuvenated people-to-people exchanges. Wang emphasized the importance of implementing the consensus between the two heads of state, aiming to elevate the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation to new heights.
Regarding the Ukraine crisis, Wang reiterated China’s commitment to promoting peace, encouraging dialogue, and seeking political solutions through fair and objective observations on multilateral platforms.
Lavrov praised China’s constructive role and support for a political resolution to the crisis. The phone call followed the Jeddah talks, providing a timely channel for communication.
Analysts hailed China’s unique role in conveying the dialogue’s message to Russia, reaffirming China’s consistent stance while underscoring its pivotal role in international discussions.
The conversation also touched upon the forthcoming BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, from August 22 to 24, with potential expansion of the bloc on the agenda. China endorsed the inevitability of BRICS’ expansion, signaling its commitment to nurturing the organization’s robust development.
Zhang Hong, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that the exaggerated differences within BRICS by the West aimed to weaken its strength. He highlighted the positive trend of constructive dialogue among members.
Wang Yi’s remarks emphasized consistency in the overall direction of BRICS expansion, while negotiations on the pace are ongoing. The phone call also laid groundwork for high-level bilateral visits, as Russian President Vladimir Putin is confirmed to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China in October, solidifying the continued partnership between the two nations.