The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Visiting the "old friend": China's top diplomat goes on a delicate trip to Russia

2023-02-15T08:35:19.139Z


Beijing's top diplomat Wang Yi is expected in Moscow in the coming days. China and Russia are close friends – despite the war in Ukraine.


Beijing's top diplomat Wang Yi is expected in Moscow in the coming days.

China and Russia are close friends – despite the war in Ukraine.

Munich/Beijing/Moscow – China's top diplomat is setting off on an extended trip to Europe today: As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing announced on Monday, Wang Yi will visit France, Hungary and Italy as well as Russia.

In addition, Wang is expected at the Munich Security Conference towards the end of the week.

The exact order of the journey was initially unknown.

Observers are talking about a new "charm offensive" by Beijing after China recently gave up its self-imposed corona isolation and is increasingly opening up to the world again.

Wang Yi was Chinese foreign minister until the end of last year, before he rose to become the top foreign politician of the Communist Party and thus of the entire country.

He was succeeded as foreign minister by Qin Gang, the former Chinese ambassador to Washington.

+

Wang Yi (left) and Sergey Lavrov in a meeting in Dushanbe in 2021.

© Imago

Since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, Wang Yi has repeatedly emphasized his country's "rock-solid friendship" with Russia.

Officially, China claims to be neutral in the conflict.

In fact, however, Beijing has not received any criticism of Russia's actions in Ukraine; instead, Beijing is benefiting from cheap oil and gas from Russia.

In addition, according to a media report, Chinese state-owned companies should continue to deliver goods to Russia that can also be used for military purposes.

After the balloon scandal: does Wang Yi meet Antony Blinken in Munich?

China's head of state and party leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an agreement on a "borderless partnership" between the two countries just days before the start of the Ukraine invasion.

Beijing also shares Russian claims that NATO and the US are to blame for the escalation of the war.

Wang's appearance at the Munich Security Conference will be the first visit by a senior Chinese government official to the top meeting since the beginning of the corona pandemic.

In the Bavarian capital, Wang will "give a speech to convey President Xi Jinping's vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, to clarify China's ongoing commitment to peaceful development, and to clarify China's position on important international issues in light of the to set out the conference theme," the Beijing Foreign Ministry said.

According to the US news agency Bloomberg, Wang could also meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Munich.

Blinken recently canceled a planned visit to Beijing after a suspected Chinese spy balloon was spotted over the United States.

It is not yet known whether Wang will meet with President Putin in Moscow or just with his “old friend” Sergey Lavrov.

The Beijing Foreign Ministry said, "China stands ready to use this visit as an opportunity to work with Russia to promote steady growth of bilateral ties in the direction set by the two leaders, protecting the legitimate rights and interests of both sides." defend and play an active role for world peace".

Xi Jinping is also expected in the Kremlin in the spring.

(sh)

List of rubrics: © Imago

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2023-02-15

You may like

Trends 24h

News/Politics 2024-03-28T06:04:53.137Z

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.