Xi Jinping, President of China, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who was visiting China, to discuss bilateral cooperation and preparations for Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming visit to China.
According to state-run Xinhua News Agency and other sources on July 15, President Xi met with Minister Lavrov at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing that day. He stated, "Both countries should thoroughly implement the important agreements reached between myself and President Vladimir Putin of Russia, and deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between China and Russia."
He continued, "We must strengthen mutual support in multilateral platforms, safeguard the development and security interests of both countries, and unite with Global South nations to advance the international order in a more just and rational direction."
He also commented on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a political, economic, and security cooperation body led by China and Russia. President Xi said, "The SCO, jointly established by China and Russia, is a comprehensive regional cooperation organization that holds significant importance for maintaining peace, stability, and development on the Eurasian continent."
Minister Lavrov expressed hope that the two countries would maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, and continue communication and coordination on international and regional issues.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that President Putin's planned visit to China, scheduled for late August to early September, was also discussed with President Xi.
In a statement released that day, the Russian Foreign Ministry explained that President Putin would visit China to attend the SCO summit, hold talks with President Xi, and participate in the commemoration of China's victory over Japan during World War II.
Previously, the Kremlin announced that President Putin would attend the SCO summit in Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1, hold talks with President Xi on September 2, and participate in the 80th anniversary ceremony of China's victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan and the end of World War II in Beijing on September 3.
Minister Lavrov arrived in China to attend the SCO Foreign Ministers' Meeting immediately after completing his visit to North Korea from July 11 to 13. On July 13, he met with Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China and Minister of Foreign Affairs, to discuss the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the Ukraine issue, and relations with the United States.
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