China wants to strengthen its strategic cooperation with Russia, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said today at a meeting in Beijing with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, France Press reported, quoted by BTA.
"China will support the stable development of Russia under the leadership of Putin," Wang Yi said.
"Beijing and Moscow will continue to strengthen their strategic cooperation on the world stage and provide serious mutual support. Popular support is a source of progress for Russia. I believe that under the decisive leadership of President Putin, the Russian people will have a bright future," the Chinese foreign minister added.
Sergei Lavrov thanked for the support expressed by Beijing for President Vladimir Putin after his recent re-election.
Chinese President "Xi Jinping (. . .) was among the first to congratulate President Putin and we are grateful to our Chinese friends for their support," Lavrov told Wang Yi.
The Russian foreign minister arrived yesterday on a two-day visit to China, AFP recalls.
Russia and China will continue to cooperate in the fight against terrorism, Sergei Lavrov said in Beijing after speaking with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Reuters reported.
"I thank the Chinese side for its condolences in connection with the terrorist attack in the Moscow region on March 22 this year,", the Russian minister said.
The terrorist organization "Islamic State" claimed responsibility for the attack on a concert hall outside Moscow that claimed the lives of at least 144 people.
"Thanks to our leaders, Russia's comprehensive and strategic relations with China have reached an unprecedented level. The re-election of Vladimir Putin provides further guarantees of continuity in the comprehensive strengthening" of these relations, emphasized Sergey Lavrov.
Reuters reported last month that Putin will visit China in May to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, marking the Russian head of state's first trip abroad since his re-election last month.