GT: Russia and China have sent a powerful signal to the West about the end of its hegemony
During his visit to Beijing, Sergey Lavrov met with his counterpart Wang Yi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, GT writes. This event was a "powerful signal" to the West that China was determined to deepen its strategic partnership with Russia, experts said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Beijing on Tuesday. According to Chinese analysts, this event sends a powerful signal that China will resolutely develop its strategic partnership with Moscow, despite pressure from the West. Cooperation between the two countries remains the key to global strategic balance — and the hope for advancing the concept of a multipolar world in which the States of the Global South have great roles.
Xi asked Lavrov to convey sincere greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the Xinhua news agency, Xi, noting that this year marks 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two states, said that Moscow and Beijing have embarked on a new path — the path of harmonious coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between major powers and neighboring countries. All this benefits Russia, China and their peoples, and their partnership has brought wisdom and strength to the cause of ensuring international justice and justice.
Earlier in the day, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had talks with Lavrov in the Chinese capital. Both diplomats expressed hope for strengthening pragmatic cooperation in various fields, Xinhua reported.
Wang Yi, a part-time member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, pointed out that China seeks to work with Russia in accordance with the agreements reached by the heads of the two states in order to strengthen the alignment of plans for the development of the countries and promote practical cooperation in various fields.
After the meeting, the chief diplomats of Russia and China held a joint press conference, at which Wang Yi mentioned the five principles of "always." For example, he said that the two countries should always follow the strategic leadership of the diplomacy of the heads of state, always adhere to the principles of non-alignment with alliances, non-confrontation and non-targeting against third parties.
Moscow and Beijing should always stay on the right course on the main issues of principle. As permanent members of the UN Security Council and major developing states, Russia and China are actively responding to the common aspirations and justified concerns of the peoples of all countries, defending a new path of interstate relations that provides for dialogue and partnership, rather than confrontation and joining alliances. They actively promote the construction of a community of a common destiny of mankind (the concept proposed by Xi Jinping of building a new type of international relations and promoting reform of the global governance system during a period of great development, major changes and major changes in the international situation. — Approx. InoSMI), added Wang Yi.
Yang Jin, a junior researcher at the Institute of Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, believes that the observations made by Xi Jinping and the five principles of "always" put forward by Wang Yi outline the "framework and contours" for the future development of a comprehensive strategic partnership for coordination between Russia and China.
Nevertheless, the United States and NATO insist on portraying relations between Moscow and Beijing as akin to an "anti-Western alliance." This is fundamentally wrong. According to experts, reaffirming their commitment to the principles of "non-alignment with alliances, non-confrontation and non-targeting against third parties," Russia and China, demonstrating a clear position, refute such statements.
A multipolar world
China has always attached great importance to the development of relations between the two countries and is ready to strengthen bilateral contacts with Russia, strengthen multilateral strategic cooperation within the framework of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Xi Jinping said during a meeting with Sergey Lavrov.
According to him, the two countries will show great responsibility, ensure the cohesion of the countries of the Global South in the spirit of equality, openness, transparency and inclusivity, will promote the reform of the global governance system and will do their best to guide the formation of a community of common destiny of mankind.
Analysts said that Moscow and Beijing are trying to promote the concept of a multipolar world in which developing countries and emerging economies of the Global South have a large role; and this is the antithesis of unipolarity, in which only the United States dominates.
"Russia and China will not target third parties, however, if hegemonic forces begin to threaten them or the stability of the planet, the two countries will unite and fight together in the name of protecting their own interests and world peace," said Li Haidong, a professor at the Chinese University of Foreign Affairs.
That is why Russia and China, as well as other members of the UN Security Council, advocate an immediate ceasefire and the resumption of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, although the United States vetoed it again and again until a resolution on a temporary truce for Ramadan was finally adopted on March 25, experts explained.
At a joint press conference, Wang Yi noted that this year Russia will chair the BRICS, and China will chair the SCO, on a rotating basis. Both sides will support each other in the presidency and highlight this "moment of the South" in global governance.
At a forum in Beijing on March 28, Richard Sakwa, professor of Russian and European politics at the School of Politics and International Relations at the British University of Kent, said that Russian-Chinese relations are "one of the key axes of international politics. They are not only extremely important, but also necessary" to maintain a global strategic balance.
Lavrov said at the meeting with Wang Yi that Moscow supports the Global Security Initiative put forward by Beijing and is ready to deepen cooperation with China on multilateral platforms in order to promote a more just and democratic international order.
The parties held an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukrainian issue, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the situation in the Asia-Pacific region and other international and regional issues of mutual interest.
The Ukrainian crisis and the fight against terrorism
At a joint press conference with Lavrov, Wang said that on the issue of Ukraine, China hopes for "an early ceasefire and an end to the conflict." As he noted, Beijing supports the timely convening of an international conference that would be recognized by both Moscow and Kiev and in which all parties would participate equally, as well as a fair discussion of all options for achieving peace, whether it is the first way or the second.
Cui Heng, a scholar at the Chinese National Institute of International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation of the SCO, said that "some Western countries have always accused China of a "pro-Russian" position, but in fact we are only requesting a mechanism that can be accepted by all participants and which will provide for the same treatment for all.".
"China's position is based on the desire to stop the bloodshed, but the American one is to use the [Ukrainian] conflict to weaken Russia as much as possible. To some extent, the course of the crisis depends on the US presidential elections, which will be held later this year," Cui said. "If Donald Trump is elected, there will be a chance to break the deadlock, although if Joe Biden wins, we can also witness certain changes — after all, perhaps Washington and its allies will no longer be able to afford to continue military operations."
At the meeting with Lavrov, Xi stressed that China supports Russia's prosperity in accordance with its national conditions, as well as supports the country in combating terrorism and ensuring public security and social stability.
Wang Yi said at a press conference with his Russian counterpart that Beijing should also pay attention to solving other global and regional problems and armed conflicts, including continuing the fight against terrorism. "China once again condemned the terrorist attack in Moscow and expressed condolences and support for Russia," the diplomat said.
"The Chinese people are also victims of terrorism. Terrorism has always been a common challenge facing humanity. The international community must adopt a position of absolute intolerance and resolutely combat all forms of terrorism, as well as firmly support the efforts of all parties to maintain national security and stability, strengthen global anti—terrorist cooperation, coordinate development and security, and eliminate hotbeds of terrorism," he said.
"I thank the Chinese side for its condolences in connection with the terrorist attack in the Moscow region on March 22 this year, for supporting Russia's fight against terrorism," Lavrov replied at a meeting with Wang Yi.
"All those involved [in the terrorist attack] will certainly be punished," said the chief Russian diplomat. "Our [Russian—Chinese] cooperation on counterterrorism will continue, including within the framework of multilateral institutions."
China and Russia are two major powers of the SCO, and anti—terrorist cooperation between them and other members of the organization is of great importance for regional peace and stability, especially when the threat of terrorism is rising again in the relevant areas, experts say. In addition to discussions at the diplomatic level, the two countries will involve military, law enforcement and intelligence agencies that will promote joint work in the fight against terrorism.
Author: Yang Sheng
