Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is in the capital of China for talks with his counterpart Wang Yi on a series of “hot topics” that will also include the war in Ukraine.
Lavrov arrived in Beijing on Monday, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, to “discuss the situation in Ukraine and the Asia-Pacific region, issues of bilateral cooperation and interaction in the international arena.”
On the war in Ukraine, China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters on Monday that “China has an objective and fair position on the Ukraine issue.”
“We have been actively promoting peace talks and political solutions. China is not a creator or party to the Ukraine crisis, and we have not and will not do anything to profit from it.”
The United States has issued multiple warnings to the European Union and NATO foreign ministers about China’s support for Russia being “at a concerning scale,” which includes “tools, inputs and technical expertise,” the Financial Times reported on Saturday.
“He raised concerns over the PRC’s support for Russia’s defense industrial base and its impact on European and transatlantic security,” it said using the acronym for China’s official name.
President Joe Biden of the United States also mentioned China’s defense support for Russia during a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, according to the White House.
Beijing, however, said it was not providing Moscow with military assistance, although it has maintained robust economic connections with Russia, alongside India and other countries.
Russia and China declared a “no limits” partnership in February 2022, when President Vladimir Putin visited Beijing just days before Russia launched the campaign in Ukraine, triggering the deadliest land war in Europe since World War Two.
Trade reached a record $240 billion last year, with Chinese companies increasing investment after Western firms left Russia following the imposition of sanctions against Moscow.
