On Page 3 of the People's Daily on March 23, there is a preview of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit to China. In it, MoFA's Hua Chunying backed up Lavrov’s comments on the Untied States and Western countries are pursuing a policy of hegemony. Here’s what Lavrov had said to Chinese media:
“We regard the new era of Russian-Chinese relations, which you have mentioned, primarily in the context of the broader situation on the international stage. It is undergoing a very deep transformation and the strengthening of the new centres of economic growth, financial might and political influence. Regrettably, the objective trend for a rise of a truly multipolar democratic world is being hindered by some Western countries led by the United States, which would like to preserve their domination of the global economy and international politics at all costs and to force their will and their demands on each and all. In response to this, Russia and China are promoting a constructive unification agenda. We want the architecture of international relations to be fair, democratic, capable of ensuring stability and based on broad interaction of states and their integration associations, just as we are doing together with our Chinese friends by promoting integration in Eurasia. China is a truly strategic partner and a like-minded country for us."
"Our cooperation on the international stage is having a stabilising effect on the global and regional situation. Russia believes that our dialogue with China based on trust and mutual respect should provide an example for other countries, including those that are trying to develop ties with Russia and China on different principles that are not based on equality. This is not acceptable to us or our Chinese friends. We will continue developing our foreign policy constructively and flexibly, showing readiness for compromise but exclusively on the basis of mutual respect and a balance of interests.”
Responding to this, Hua said that his “remarks are right to the point. The more unstable the world is, the more China and Russia need to advance our cooperation. For a long period, the US and the West wantonly interfered in other country's domestic affairs by using democracy and human rights as an excuse. Such moves created troubles in the world and even became the source of instability and war. China and Russia always stand together in close cooperation, firmly rejects hegemony and bullying practice and have become a pillar for world peace and stability.”
On Lavrov’s visit, she said that “The two sides will join hands in building a model of international relations featuring strategic trust, mutually beneficial cooperation, close people-to-people ties, fairness and justice. Together, the two sides can make greater contribution to upholding world peace and stability.”
Lavrov, of course, landed yesterday and met Wang Yi. Upon landing, he said that ties between the two countries are at “the best in their entire history.” Xinhua’s report of the talks so far says that “the two sides briefed each other on the latest developments of their respective relations with the United States, according to a press release issued after the meeting. The two foreign ministers said the international community believes that the United States should reflect on the damage it has done to global peace and development in recent years, halt unilateral bullying, stop meddling in other countries' domestic affairs, and stop forming small circles to seek bloc confrontation, said the press release. It said the two ministers agreed that all countries should follow the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations (UN), uphold true multilateralism, make international relations more democratic, and accept and promote peaceful coexistence and common development of countries with different social systems and development paths.”
They talked about the JCPOA and Afghanistan. On Myanmar, they “voiced the support for all parties in Myanmar to seek a political solution to the current crisis within the constitution and legal framework, avoid further conflict and bloodshed, prevent external forces from taking advantage of the crisis for their own gains, and continue to advance the democratic transition.” Xinhua adds that “the two sides also coordinated positions on a wide range of issues such as UN reform, climate change, Asia-Pacific situation, Syria and Sudan.”
Finally, they are also talking about the establishment of a regional security dialogue platform to converge a new consensus on resolving the security concerns of countries in the region.
Finally, on the page, we have MoFA’s comments about the China-US talks in Anchorage. Hua said that “during the dialogue, the two sides conducted candid, in-depth, long and constructive communication on domestic and foreign policies, China-U.S. relations and major international and regional issues of common concern. The dialogue is timely, helpful and deepens mutual understanding.”