By Xinhua | on May 06, 2023 | 07:46
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| Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang (L) meets with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) foreign ministers meeting in Goa, India, May 4, 2023. (Source: Xinhua/Javed Dar) |
China and Russia have agreed to further expand bilateral ties and make the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) a platform for mutually beneficial cooperation.
Meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the SCO foreign ministers meeting on Thursday, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang said China is ready to join forces with Russia to implement the important consensus reached between the SCO heads of state two countries and strengthen strategic communication.
The two countries have had frequent exchanges at all levels and increased cooperation in various fields, Qin said.
Lavrov said Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia in March gave a great impetus to the development of bilateral ties. Russia is ready to jointly increase cooperation with China in various areas and raise bilateral relations to a higher level.
Both sides agreed to plan and organize high-level and multi-level exchanges, enhance economic and trade cooperation, deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and facilitate personnel exchanges.
They pledged to enhance communication and coordination with other SCO member states, and uphold SCO solidarity and cooperation, to make the SCO a platform for mutually beneficial cooperation.
The two sides also agreed to improve coordination and cooperation within the BRICS, the Group of 20, the United Nations and other multilateral bodies, reject all forms of hegemonism, protect and uphold the common interests of emerging economies and developing countries International equality and justice.
They agreed to strengthen communication and coordination in the Asia-Pacific region, to oppose a new “Cold War” and to ensure peace and stability in the region.
The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis.
China will continue to facilitate peace talks and stands ready to maintain communication and coordination with Russia to make concrete contributions to a political solution to the crisis, Qin said.
Lavrov said the Russian side attaches importance to China’s position paper on the political solution to the Ukraine crisis, agrees with China’s principled position and is ready to sincerely maintain close communication with China.
The two sides also exchanged views on other international and regional issues of common concern.
(Web Editor: 吴思萱, Zhao Jian)