China, Russia criticise US, Europe for trying to sow discord between them

Chinese and Russian foreign ministers shared the view on Monday during telephone talks that the United States and European nations are trying to sow discord between them and hinder their economic development with sanctions, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

In the first talks between China’s new Foreign Minister Qin Gang and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, the two agreed the policy of the United States and its “satellites” of provoking confrontation between Russia and China is “unacceptable”, Russia’s Tass news agency quoted the ministry as saying in a statement.

The two ministers also discussed the Ukraine crisis, with Qin calling for efforts to peacefully settle it, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February last year, Beijing has refrained from condemning Moscow and has opposed sanctions imposed by Western nations.

Lavrov asked the new Chinese foreign minister to visit Russia, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. Qin, a former Chinese ambassador to the United States, replaced Wang Yi as foreign minister in late December.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said during online talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in December that he expects Xi to make a state visit to Russia in the spring of 2023. Qin’s Russia trip is expected to lay the groundwork for the Chinese leader’s visit.

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