What’s new: China expressed support for Russia in maintaining national stability, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Sunday, one day after Moscow defused a rebellion attempt by the country’s private military company Wagner Group.
In response to a media query regarding this weekend’s turn of events in Russia, which the foreign ministry referred to as the “Wagner Group incident” in a statement published late Sunday, a ministry spokesperson said the matter is the country’s “internal affair.”
The spokesperson also said China is Russia’s “friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic partner” which supports Moscow in achieving development and prosperity.
Earlier on Sunday, Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko in Beijing, where the two exchanged views on “China-Russia relations and international and regional issues of common concern,” according to a separate one-line statement from the ministry. It did not elaborate on the details of their conversation.
What’s more: Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu also held talks with Rudenko on Sunday. Ma said Beijing and Moscow should communicate with each other “in a timely manner” in the face of the “complicated and challenging international situation,” while ensuring stable and long-term development of bilateral relations.
China and Russia will further strengthen solidarity through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as the two sides agreed that the Eurasian bloc plays an important role in maintaining regional security and stability, the foreign ministry said in another statement.
Rudenko said Russia-China relations at present are “at their best in history,” adding that Moscow is ready to continue to promote more mutually beneficial cooperation with Beijing, the statement said.
Contact reporter Kelly Wang (jingzhewang@caixin.com) and editor Bertrand Teo (bertrandteo@caixin.com)
Get our weekly free Must-Read newsletter.
