Relations with Russia hailed by ministers

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday that China and Russia should make concerted efforts to deal with global challenges and promote a fairer international order as the world landscape is undergoing complex changes.

Wang made the remark when meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the ongoing 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, saying that China and Russia, as permanent members of the UN Security Council and responsible major countries, should play their due roles.

The meeting was the latest of a series of high-level exchanges between the two countries. Last week, President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin met in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and agreed to further develop bilateral relations and work together to inject stability into a world of change and disorder.

Consensus highlighted

During Wednesday's meeting, Wang told Lavrov that consensus of the two heads of state charted the course for development of bilateral relations, and China is willing to work with Russia to implement important common understandings in a comprehensive and efficient manner.

He also called on the two countries to jointly oppose unilateralism and power politics, and to uphold justice for developing countries as well as small- and medium-sized countries.

As the Communist Party of China will convene its 20th National Congress soon, Lavrov said his country is convinced that the Congress will conclude with positive agreements on China's further development.

Russia highly appreciates and actively supports the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative proposed by Xi, said Lavrov, noting that the initiatives are of great importance and will achieve international synergy in promoting peace, development, equality and justice for the world.

Russia also hopes to strengthen coordination with China in international and regional bodies, including the UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Wang and Lavrov also exchanged views on issues, including Ukraine and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Wang said that China will keep an objective and fair stance to promote peace talks, adding that China hopes related parties will not give up efforts to address security concerns through peace talks.

Lavrov expounded Russia's position on the issue, and said security is indivisible and Russia is still willing to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation.

Wang also attended a high-level meeting on climate change at the UN headquarters and delivered a speech on Wednesday. He noted that Xi has clearly pointed out that the earth is a big family, that the human race belongs to one community, and that mankind should cooperate to tackle climate change.

On the same day, Wang also met respectively with the prime minister of Georgia, the French president's diplomatic counselor, the high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy and foreign ministers of Norway, Hungary, Poland and Somalia.