Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and head of the office of the CPC Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Photo: Alexander Nemenov/AFP)

The Russian foreign minister underlined the readiness of Russia and China to protect each other's interests in line with international law and the UN’s central role. He noted that Russia and China were demonstrating cohesion. Lavrov hoped that Wang’s work in his new post will contribute to further strengthening Russia-China relations, strategic interaction, and all-round partnership. 

Wang said that in his post he will continue his efforts to strengthen ties between Russia and China, adding that thanks to the strategic direction set by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two countries’ relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction in the new era have maintained a high momentum of development.