Russian Foreign Minister set to hold talks in China April 8-9

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
7 Apr 2024 15:05

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit China to discuss with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, bilateral and international issues.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during their meeting in Beijing, China, October 16, 2023. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)

"On April 8-9, the official visit of Russian Foreign Minister S. V. Lavrov to China will take place and will include negotiations with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi," Russia's Foreign Ministry announced in a statement on Sunday.

According to the statement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi will discuss bilateral cooperation and interaction in the international arena with a particular focus on joint work within the United Nations, BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, G20, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation as well as other multilateral mechanisms and forums.

The discussions will additionally encompass a comprehensive exchange of perspectives concerning various current and regional matters, such as the war in Ukraine and the state of affairs in the Asia-Pacific region.

Blinken warns NATO allies of 'concerning' China-Russia cooperation: FT

The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has warned against a "concerning scale" of Chinese support for Russia during the latter's Special Military Operation in Ukraine, during this week's NATO foreign ministers' summit in Brussels, according to the Financial Times.

Concerned over the alleged matter, Blinken said that China is now assisting Russia and providing "tools, inputs, and technical expertise" to Moscow, unnamed sources told FT.

The top diplomat said that Beijing is supporting its neighbor with the development of critical technologies and equipment, including propellants, optical sensors, and its space sector, which Blinken says does not only contribute to the Russian "aggression" in Ukraine but threatens other countries.

"The warnings were explicit. There has been a shift and it was felt in the room... this was a new development. It was very striking," one of the sources informed on the matter told the newspaper.

Blinken has raised the issue of Russia-China trade relations in every session of the NATO foreign ministers' meetings and asked them to raise concerns in talks with China, speak publicly about them, and take appropriate action on Chinese entities and persons affiliated with Russia's industrial sector.