China: Russia important G20 member, cannot be expelled by others

• 

China's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Russia was an important member of the G20 after Washington said it would work to exclude Russia from the international forum.

Beijing has stood by Moscow amid the West's push to isolate it from the international community in response to the operation in Ukraine. 

"The G20 is the main forum for international economic cooperation," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters, adding that Russia is an important member of the forum and that no member has the right to expel another country.

The leaders of the two countries declared a strategic partnership following a visit by Russia's President to China amid the Winter Olympics. 

"On the question of the G20, I will just say this: We believe that it cannot be business as usual for Russia in international institutions and in the international community," Jake Sullivan White House National Security Advisor said.

Russian Ambassador to Indonesia: Putin will attend G20 summit

Russia's Ambassador to Indonesia revealed on Wednesday that the Russian President is planning on attending the G20 summit, which will be held in Indonesia later this year.

Moscow's Ambassador, Lyudmila Vorobieva, said that Indonesia had already invited Putin to the November summit in Bali.

"It will depend on many things, including the Covid situation that is getting better. But, so far yes, the intention is [for Putin] to come," she told reporters on Wednesday, confirming that there have been attempts to exclude the Russian head of state from attending and stressing Russia's appreciation of Indonesia's "firm position".

"We really hope that the Indonesian government will not give in to the horrible pressure that is being applied to not only Indonesia, but so many countries in the world by the West."