China’s Qin Gang pledges to keep Moscow close in Ukraine peace bid
- Communication and coordination to continue for ‘real contribution’ to end of conflict, foreign minister tells his Russian counterpart
- At their meeting in Goa, the two men also agreed to oppose a ‘new cold war’ in the Asia-Pacific
At their third in-person meeting since Qin’s appointment at the end of last year, the two sides also agreed to “step up communication and coordination in the Asia-Pacific to oppose a ‘new cold war’”, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.
The ministry did not mention Xi’s call with Zelensky, but quoted Qin’s remarks on the Russia-Ukraine conflict that China would “continue to promote peace talks and is willing to maintain communication and coordination with Russia to make a real contribution to the political settlement of the crisis”.
In response, Lavrov said Russia “is willing to maintain close communication with China in a frank and sincere manner”.
The meeting took place one day after Russia claimed it had shot down two drones over President Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin residence, in an escalation of already heightened tensions.
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