Chinese President Xi Jinping Holds Talks with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov to Highlight Strong Partnership

Chinese leader Xi Jinping recently met with top Russian diplomat Sergey Lavrov in Beijing, as reported by state media. This meeting highlights the significance that China places on its strong and growing relationship with Moscow.

Lavrov is currently on a two-day visit to the Chinese capital. This visit follows Russian President Vladimir Putin's indication last month that he is considering China for his first overseas trip, after securing his extended rule through a controlled election victory.

State media has not provided additional information about the meeting.

This meeting between Lavrov and Xi is significant as it marks their first meeting in six years. It is worth noting that heads of state do not typically meet with visiting ministers. Their previous meeting took place in 2018, just weeks before Putin's state visit to China. This visit was especially noteworthy as it was Putin's first visit after winning a highly orchestrated Russian presidential election that year.

Since then, both countries have strengthened their economic, trade, and diplomatic ties, especially following Putin's actions in Ukraine.

Beijing maintains a stance of neutrality in the conflict, yet has become a vital economic support for Russia and a strong diplomatic ally against perceived Western containment efforts.

When a Russian lawmaker suggested that Putin's first overseas trip of his new term should be to China, Putin acknowledged the idea. The Kremlin has not yet confirmed any travel plans.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russia's President Vladimir Putin attend an event at Beijing's Great Hall of the People in October 2023.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russia's President Vladimir Putin attend an event at Beijing's Great Hall of the People in October 2023.

Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images

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Putin's most recent visit to Beijing was in October for the Belt and Road Forum. Xi Jinping, on the other hand, went on a state visit to Moscow last March, shortly after starting his third term as the president of China.

Earlier on Tuesday, Lavrov had a meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Wang highlighted the strong relationship between the two countries, describing it as the "highest level in history." He also mentioned their shared stance against a Cold War mentality during a joint news conference, as reported by Chinese state media.

During their meeting, the two sides talked about the conflict in Ukraine. They both agreed that international discussions on Ukraine that do not take into account Moscow's interests are not helpful, Lavrov stated at the conference, according to Russian state news agency Tass.

Wang informed his counterpart that China backs the idea of hosting an international peace conference that is acknowledged by both Russia and Ukraine. The conference should allow equal participation from all involved parties and ensure that all peace proposals are considered fairly, as per a Chinese Foreign Ministry representative.

This statement comes at a time when there are increasing concerns about finding a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.

Previous international peace conferences had Kyiv's support and excluded Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is seeking widespread backing for his peace plan, which includes the full withdrawal of Russian troops.

China has been in discussions with Switzerland regarding the upcoming peace conference, as reported by state media. However, China has stated that any talks should be acknowledged by both Ukraine and Russia.

CNN’s Wayne Chang and Steven Jiang contributed to this report.

Editor's P/S:

This meeting between Xi and Lavrov underscores the deepening ties between China and Russia. The absence of a meeting between Xi and Putin, however, could indicate that China is cautious about aligning itself too closely with Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Nevertheless, the discussion on Ukraine during the meeting suggests that China is seeking to play a more active role in resolving the conflict.

China's stance on the conflict has been nuanced, balancing its neutrality with support for Russia. This is evident in its economic support for Russia and its opposition to Western containment efforts. While China has not provided military assistance to Russia, it has become a vital economic lifeline, providing a market for Russian energy and other exports. Additionally, China has been a vocal advocate for a diplomatic solution to the conflict, calling for dialogue and negotiations between all parties involved.