MOSCOW (AFP) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Moscow’s key diplomatic and economic partner China today and tomorrow, his ministry said in a statement.
“On April 8 and 9, the foreign affairs minister of the Russian Federation, Sergei Lavrov, will undertake an official visit in the People’s Republic of China, during which discussions with… (his Chinese counterpart) Wang Yi are planned,” it said yesterday
“An in-depth exchange of points of view is expected on a certain number of ‘burning subjects’,” the statement said, citing “the Ukrainian crisis and the situation in the Asia-Pacific region”.
They would “discuss a wide range of questions linked to bilateral cooperation, as well as cooperation on the international scene,” the statement added.
In Beijing, China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning confirmed the “official” visit at Wang Yi’s invitation.
After his re-election in March this year, Putin said the relationship was a “factor of stability”, adding he enjoyed “very good personal relations” with Xi.
China sees itself as a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict, but it has become Russia’s leading trade partner in the last two years and favours a political settlement to end the fighting.
