Russia and China have announced plans to deepen their security cooperation in Asia and Europe to counter the United States' attempts to exert dominance on these regions, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Russia and China Agree to Deepen Their Security Cooperation in Asia, Europe
Speaking in Beijing on Tuesday after talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, Sergey Lavrov said: "For a long time, there was a Euro-Atlantic security structure in the form of NATO... as well as the OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]. But it is striking itself out from the list of relevant structures within which it is possible to conduct meaningful negotiations and agree on something based on a balance of interests."
According to Al Jazeera, Wang Yi, in a news conference after the meeting with Lavrov, refrained from directly mentioning the US, NATO, or the conflict in Ukraine. However, he emphasized the importance of China and Russia resisting hegemonism, power politics, and the monopoly of international affairs by some countries.
Wang reiterated China's commitment to deepen its economic and trading relationships with Moscow despite Western allies efforts to isolate Russia. He noted that the two countries must continue "to strengthen strategic cooperation on the world stage and provide each other with strong support."
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US Treasury Raised Concerns About China's Cooperation With Russia
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Monday that during her recent visit to Beijing, she raised concerns about China's cooperation with Russia and warned of potential consequences for Chinese companies supporting Russia's war in Ukraine.
Sergey Lavrov denounced the "unlawful sanctions" implemented by the Western allies and other countries against Russia and warned that the sanctions policy was also beginning to be actively applied towards China. Lavrov was referencing efforts by the US to restrict China's access to advanced US-made technologies.
According to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, Wang Yi told Lavrov that China would continue to support "Russia's stable development" under the leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
While China asserts its neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, it faces criticism for its reluctance to denounce Russia for its offensive. Lavrov's official two-day trip to China coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
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