Lavrov criticises efforts to contain Russia and China during Beijing visit

BEIJING: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday criticised what he described as attempts to ‘contain’ Russia and China during a visit to the Chinese capital, where he also held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Photographs released by Russia’s foreign ministry showed Lavrov receiving a red-carpet welcome after arriving in Beijing. He later met Wang, with another image shared on social media by the Russian foreign ministry showing the two ministers shaking hands.

According to quotes from Lavrov’s meeting with Wang published by state-run RIA Novosti, the Russian foreign minister warned that ‘some very, very dangerous games going on’ in East Asian flashpoints, including Taiwan, the disputed South China Sea and the Korean peninsula, which is home to nuclear-armed North Korea.

In remarks that appeared to refer 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 Peoples Republic of China and the Russian Federation’.

He added: ‘Our vast continent as a whole demands constant attention.’

Talks on regional and global issues

The Chinese foreign ministry said Wang and Lavrov held in-depth discussions on the US-Iran conflict, the situation in the Asia-Pacific and the war in Ukraine.

In the Chinese foreign ministry’s account of the meeting, Wang said: ‘The two sides coordinate and support one another on the international stage, demonstrating to the whole world that amid adversity, a righteous path remains, and that under changes, there lies greater responsibility.’

The Chinese side also said the two ministers ‘communicated and synced up preparations for a meeting between the two heads of state within the year’.

That reference was to plans for a meeting later this year between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which was discussed during Lavrov’s visit.

‘they are trying to dismantle (regional cooperation) by creating small-format, bloc-based structures aimed at containing both the Peoples Republic of China and the Russian Federation’

The visit underscored continued diplomatic coordination between Moscow and Beijing at a time when both countries are engaged in major international disputes involving the West. The Chinese foreign ministry said the two countries were supporting each other on the international stage while also aligning preparations for a future meeting between their leaders.

Lavrov’s comments focused particularly on East Asia, where he pointed to Taiwan, the South China Sea and the Korean peninsula as areas of concern. China, for its part, said the talks also covered the US-Iran conflict and Ukraine, indicating a broad agenda spanning several of the world’s most sensitive geopolitical issues.