By Elena Teslova and Berk Kutay Gokmen
MOSCOW / ISTANBUL (AA) - China’s President Xi Jinping on Friday sought “close cooperation at all levels” with Russia to promote comprehensive strategic cooperation.
Xi made these comments during a meeting with visiting Russian Security Council’s Secretary Sergey Shoygu, who also separately met China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing.
Shoygu’s trip to Beijing comes as Russia and the US move towards normalizing ties.
Xi recalled having two phone calls with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin since early this year.
“China and Russia are friendly neighbors and true friends,” Xi told Shougu.
Along with Putin, Xi said the two had made “overarching plans for the development of China-Russia relations” as well as held in-depth exchanges on a series of major international and regional issues.
"The two sides should continue to strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs, give full play to the role of the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and consolidate the general direction of solidarity and cooperation in the global South," Xi said.
Shoygu, for his part, said China has been “actively promoting a peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian crisis, for which Russia deeply appreciates.”
Separately, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during his meeting with Shoygu that Beijing and Moscow should “maintain close coordination and continue to deepen mutual trust and cooperation in the field of strategic security.”
Regarding the war in Ukraine, Wang said: “China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting peace and promoting talks and promoting a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis.”
The Russian security council chief told Wang that Moscow is “committed to eliminating the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis and seeking a permanent, fair, and sustainable peace plan.”
Shoygu’s visit came as Russia and the US engaged in two rounds of talks aimed at improving relations.
Senior Russian officials are visiting the country’s "friendly" partners, reportedly to reassure them that Moscow will not shift its foreign policy focus even if ties with Washington normalize.