Qin and Lavrov Meet in New Delhi To Discuss Cooperation and Ukraine

March 3, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)—Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov yesterday on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting. Qin said that the healthy and stable development of China-Russia relations has set a new model for major power relations, and also plays an important role in promoting solidarity and cooperation between emerging markets and developing countries.

Lavrov congratulated Qin on his appointment as Foreign Minister, and said, “I am certain that by working together we will be able to ensure continuity and steady progress in all areas, as agreed by our leaders, including during their February 4, 2022 summit in Beijing. Moscow and Beijing reaffirmed their shared commitment to these agreements and the overall policy line traced by our leaders during the visit to the Russian Federation” of leading diplomat Wang Yi over Feb. 22-23. Lavrov also remarked that Russia supports Xi Jinping’s Global Security Initiative and the Global Development Initiative, and is ready to strengthen cooperation and coordination with China in multilateral frameworks, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS.

On Ukraine, Qin called for jointly upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and reiterated that China supports a political solution to the war in Ukraine, and opposes sanctions and pressure. China supports all efforts conducive to promoting peace talks and will continue to play a constructive role to this end, he stressed. Lavrov expressed his appreciation for China’s constructive role and objective and impartial position on the crisis, saying that the Russian side is always open to negotiations and dialogue.