Chinese foreign minister rejects calls for Russia to be kicked out of G20

Wang Yi tells his Indonesian counterpart that no one has the power to divide the bloc and it ‘should not be politicised’

There have been calls for Moscow to be expelled from the grouping as punishment for its invasion of Ukraine

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says the G20 should not be split. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:21pm, 1 Apr 2022Updated: 7:33pm, 1 Apr 2022

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has rejected calls for Russia to be expelled from the Group of 20, saying the bloc should not be split.

“No one has the power to divide the G20,” Wang said in a meeting with visiting Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi on Thursday, according to the Chinese foreign ministry readout.

Indonesia currently holds the rotating chair of the G20, a key forum for cooperation among the world’s largest economies.

Wang said the bloc should focus on macroeconomic policy coordination and “should not be politicised”.

It came after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for talks on whether Russia should be excluded from the grouping as punishment for its invasion of Ukraine. Kicking out Russia would require unanimous consensus from all member states.

China has also criticised Western sanctions against close ally Russia, and has refused to condemn Moscow’s actions in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly still wants to attend the G20 summit in October. Photo: AFP