Russia’s Lavrov arrives in China for talks on Ukraine, Iran

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in China on April 14 for discussions covering the wars in Ukraine and Iran, as well as broader bilateral relations between Moscow and Beijing.

Lavrov was shown on Russian state television arriving in Beijing, where he is expected to hold talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Reuters reports.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said that “a thorough exchange of ⁠views is expected on a number of 'hot topics' and regional issues, including the Ukrainian crisis and the situation in the Middle East.”

The ministry added that Lavrov and Wang will also discuss bilateral cooperation, along with coordination in multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the G20, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

China and Russia declared a “no limits” partnership in February 2022 during a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Beijing, days before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin has at times described China as an “ally.”

Meanwhile, in its annual threat assessment, US intelligence agencies have described China and Russia as the main strategic competitors to Washington across a range of areas, including the Arctic, artificial intelligence, space, and nuclear capabilities.

By Sabina Mammadli