Russia, China to work towards 'more just multipolar world order'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: agencies
2 Feb 2023 23:44
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FM Lavrov and deputy FM Ma reaffirmed their shared commitment to uphold nations' sovereignty and to work together to create a more just multipolar world order.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a news conference in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Dec. 23, 2022 (Evgenia Novozhenina/ Pool Photo via AP, file)

The Russian Foreign Ministry reported on Thursday that Sergey Lavrov advocated for the revival of direct communication, reciprocal travel, and exchanges at a meeting with Ma Zhaoxu, the first deputy foreign minister of China.

"In the light of the lifting of quarantine restrictions, a common opinion was expressed on the expediency of promptly restoring the dynamics of face-to-face contacts, mutual tourism, and human and humanitarian exchanges between our countries," the ministry's statement read.

Lavrov also hailed Moscow-Beijing cooperation in the UN, BRICS, SCO, and other international organizations.

"A number of topical issues on the bilateral, global, and regional agenda were discussed. A positive assessment was given to the constructive dialogue and the high level of bilateral coordination within the UN, BRICS, SCO, and other international organizations and associations, which fully meets the partnership and trust-based nature of relations between our countries," the ministry's statement said.

According to the ministry, Lavrov and Ma reaffirmed their shared commitment to uphold nations' sovereignty and to work together to create a more just multipolar world order.

The two agreed that confrontational policies and attempts by individual nations to meddle in the internal affairs of other states and stifle their growth through sanctions and other illegal means should be rejected.

A growing friendship between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin has helped put the two countries closer together. The ambitions to end what China and Russia regard as America's economic and geopolitical hegemony further strengthened the diplomatic ties.

Bilateral trade between Russia and China exceeded US$100 billion in 2020, declining 3% compared to 2019. However, Moscow and Beijing want to double the volume of trade to US$200 billion by 2024.