Xi calls China-Russia ties 'precious' in current international context

Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday that the stability and certainty of China-Russia relations are particularly "precious" in the face of an international landscape intertwined with change and chaos, while also referencing the war in Iran.

During a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing, Xi said the strong vitality and exemplary significance of the friendship treaty between the two countries stand out even more under such a backdrop.

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He said foreign ministries from both countries would need to fully implement the consensus reached between him and Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling for strengthening strategic communication and close diplomatic coordination. He also urged them to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between Beijing and Moscow to "stand higher, walk more steadily and go further."

Xi touted the value of the two nations' ties at a time when uncertainty lingered about how long the Iran war would last.

In clips from an interview with the Fox Business Network, US President Donald Trump said Tuesday the war was "close to over." Trump has repeatedly declared a US victory in Iran after the war started - even as the reality on the ground has been far more complicated.

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Relations between China and Russia have deepened in recent years, particularly following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Trump's unorthodox approach to the war in Ukraine has added a twist to the relationship but doesn't appear to have fundamentally changed it.

When Putin visited China in September, Xi welcomed his counterpart as an "old friend." Putin also addressed Xi as "dear friend."

Lavrov arrived in China on Tuesday for a two-day trip at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.