Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with his Chinese counterpart Vang Yi upon his arrival in Beijing. Neither side has yet made a statement on the meeting.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the ministers would “discuss the situation in Ukraine and the Asia-Pacific, bilateral and international cooperation.”
The visit is presumably in preparation for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s expected visit to China later this month.
At a time of geopolitical rivalry with the United States and heightened tensions and confrontation in the Indo-Pacific region, China has been rapprochement and increased coordination on international issues with Russia, which faces similar challenges due to the war in Ukraine.
Chinese President Xi made his first foreign visit to Russia after being re-elected at the National People’s Congress held in March 2023, extending his rule to a third term. Putin, who was re-elected on March 18, is also expected to make his first foreign visit to China after the election.
