China and Russia should strengthen coordination on international issues.

(CLO) Chinese President Xi Jinping received Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu in Beijing on Friday, affirming that China-Russia relations are like "steel tempered in fire" and emphasizing close cooperation between the two powers.

Xi also called on the two sides to strengthen coordination on international and regional issues, and reaffirmed important agreements he and Russian President Vladimir Putin reached this year.

Mr Shoigu responded by describing bilateral relations as at an “unprecedented high level” and underlining his desire to deepen agreements with Beijing. He also praised China’s role in hosting the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, last year.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Secretary of the Russian Security Council Sergei Shoigu at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, February 28. Photo: Xinhua

The meeting took place amid signs of warming US-Russia relations, with bilateral discussions in Türkiye and a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Saudi Arabia to discuss the Ukraine crisis.

There are even reports that a face-to-face meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is being arranged, raising speculation that the US may be trying to influence Russia-China relations after years of close cooperation between the two countries.

However, China's Foreign Ministry has rejected any attempts to create a divide, asserting that relations between Beijing and Moscow will "progress steadily" despite international turmoil. On the same day, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also declared that China-Russia relations are "firm and unshakable".

The two sides agreed to hold a new round of strategic security consultations at an appropriate time. The Russian Security Council later said that both Moscow and Beijing oppose NATO's expansion of influence in the Asia- Pacific region, calling it "unacceptable".

One of the important contents discussed was the preparation for the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in Moscow in May. Mr. Xi Jinping is expected to attend this event, while Mr. Putin has also invited Mr. Trump but it is not clear whether he will attend.

Hoai Phuong (according to CCTV, TASS, SCMP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/chu-tich-tap-can-binh-trung-quoc-va-nga-nen-tang-cuong-phoi-hop-trong-cac-van-de-quoc-te-post336676.html