Beijing, 17 October 2023 (TDI): Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing ahead of the Belt and Road Forum to discuss pressing issues on the bilateral agenda, the Ukrainian crisis, and the Hamas-Israel conflict.
The meeting took place ahead of Russian Premier, Vladimir Putin’s arrival in Beijing on Tuesday who is invited as a guest of honor to attend the Belt and Road Forum, a meeting about China’s enthusiastic global interconnectivity infrastructure initiative.
In a meeting in Beijing on Monday, Wang discussed the ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict with his counterpart Lavrov and for the Security Council to step up for the resolution of the conflict.
Wang Yi urged that UN Security Council, “must take action, and the major powers should play an active role.”
“It is imperative that a ceasefire be put in place, that the two sides be brought back to the negotiating table, and that an emergency humanitarian channel be established to prevent a greater humanitarian disaster,” Wang quoted.
Moreover, Moscow has condemned violence against both Palestinians and Jews, but Putin has frequently criticized the flawed approach of United States which he said overlooked the need for an independent Palestinian state.
Also Read: Russia urges immediate ceasefire & truce in Palestine-Israel Conflict
The meeting with Wang Yi resulted in, “A thorough exchange of views took place on a wide range of international and regional issues, including the sharply aggravated situation in the Middle East,” according to Russia’s foreign ministry.
In addition to that, during the bilateral talks between Wang Yi and Lavrov, discussions regarding the military conflict in Ukraine were also brought up. Wang Yi stressed on the efforts to resolve the conflict through “political and diplomatic methods.”
“China appreciates President Putin’s high regard for and support for the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, and welcomes the Russian side’s continued active participation,” Wang Yi said.
