Russian President Putin meets with Wang Yi in St. Petersburg

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, on Thursday in St. Petersburg.

Putin asked Wang to convey his sincere greetings and best wishes to President Xi Jinping, expressing his eagerness for China's participation in the BRICS leaders' summit to be held next month in Russia's Kazan.

Russia and China are continuously deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. The two sides are keeping good momentum in exchanges at all levels and smooth progress in cooperation across various fields. Russia is willing to take the opportunity of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations this year to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen the alignment of development strategies, and promote the Russia-China relationship to a new level, Putin said.

Russia appreciates China's support for Russia's role as the rotating chair of BRICS, noting that this BRICS meeting of high-ranking security officials and advisors has achieved positive results and the BRICS successfully held a dialogue with Global South countries.

Russia values China's diplomatic approach which is always based on long-term perspectives and the common future of humanity. Russia stands ready to strengthen coordination with China, unite more Global South countries, and work together to promote multipolarity and build an international order based on justice and international law.

Wang conveyed President Xi's warm greetings to President Putin, stating that the mutual trust between China and Russia is solid and their friendship is deep. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era is developing healthily and steadily.

China and Russia strengthen strategic coordination, oppose unilateral bullying, and resist bloc confrontation, which aligns with the trends of progress in the times as well as the common aspirations of Global South countries, Wang said, China is willing to maintain strategic communication with Russia, unite more like-minded countries, and promote the process of global multipolarity.

Through the joint efforts of all parties, the "greater BRICS" cooperation has made a good start. The Kazan Summit will be the first leaders' meeting after the expansion of BRICS, and China will continue to fully support Russia in fulfilling its responsibilities as the chair country, promoting the success of the summit, Wang noted.

China is willing to work together with BRICS partners to advance a multipolar world that is equal and orderly, and to promote inclusive economic globalization, contributing to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine issue. Putin praised the "Six-Point Consensus" jointly issued by China and Brazil, reiterating that Russia has always maintained an open attitude toward peace talks.

Wang said that China is committed to promoting a political resolution to the crisis and stands ready to work with all parties to gather objective, rational, and balanced voices from the international community.

Before the meeting with Wang, Putin held a collective meeting with the heads of delegations attending the meeting of the BRICS high-ranking officials responsible for security matters and national security advisors.