Top Russian, Chinese officials discuss conflicts in Middle East, Ukraine

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu on Tuesday discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula and the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that during the meeting Lavrov and Ma emphasized the necessity of strengthening coordination in the UN, including the Security Council, economic bloc BRICS, and other international and regional forums.

Both sides discussed the current state of affairs in Ukraine, exchanged views on security in the Eurasian and the Asia-Pacific regions, and agreed on the need for an early political and diplomatic settlement of the situation in the Middle East and a reduction in tension on the Korean peninsula, it said.

The two diplomats expressed readiness to further strengthen Russian-Chinese foreign policy cooperation "aimed at maintaining peace and stability in the region and on the planet as a whole," it said.

In Russia since Jan. 29, Ma also held a meeting with First Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov, the ministry said.

Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, who is responsible for Asian affairs in the Russian diplomatic service, also took part in Lavrov's meeting with Ma.