President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Beijing.

The meeting was held at the Great Hall of the People, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

President Xi urged closer and stronger strategic coordination between China and Russia to firmly defend their legitimate interests and safeguard the unity of Global South countries.

Noting the stability and certainty of China-Russia relations are particularly valuable in a changing and turbulent international situation, Xi called on the two countries to shoulder their responsibilities as major countries and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

After the meeting, Lavrov announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin would visit China in the first of half of this year.

On Tuesday, Lavrov criticised efforts aimed at "containing" Russia and China during talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

In comments apparently referring to the United States and its allies, Lavrov said, "they are trying to dismantle (regional cooperation) by creating small-format, bloc-based structures aimed at containing both the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation", according to Russia's state-run RIA Novosti.

Lavrov was on a two-day visit to China to boost bilateral ties and discuss the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. (Xinhua & AFP)



Edited by Altis Wong