Chinese leader Xi meets Russia’s Lavrov as two partners tout strong ties

[김보나(경영)]

Chinese leader Xi meets Russia’s Lavrov as two partners tout strong ties

Hong Kong

CNN

—

Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with top Russian diplomat Sergey Lavrov in Beijing Tuesday, state media reported, in yet another sign of the importance China gives to its increasingly robust ties with Moscow.

Lavrov is making a two-day visit to the Chinese capital, which comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin last month suggested he was considering China for his first overseas trip after extending his one-man rule with a stage-managed election victory last month.

The Kremlin on Tuesday confirmed that such a visit was “in the works,” saying Lavrov’s trip could be viewed as “preparations for upcoming interaction at the highest level,” state-run news agency Tass reported. But a spokesperson declined to provide exact dates.

During his meeting with Lavrov, Xi pledged to strengthen communication with Russia and said Beijing supports Moscow in “maintaining social security and stability,” according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. Xi also noted the two countries’ shared drive to reform “global governance” – an allusion to their joint efforts to reshape what they see as Western-dominated world.

Lavrov said “consolidating and enhancing” relations with China was the “priority of Russia’s foreign policy,” according to Chinese state media.

It was Xi and Lavrov’s first direct meeting in six years and notable as heads of state do not necessarily meet with visiting ministers. Their last meeting in 2018 came weeks before a state visit from Putin to China — his first such trip after winning another highly orchestrated Russian presidential election that year.

Since then, the two countries have ramped up their economic, trade and diplomatic relations – including in the wake of Putin’s war in Ukraine.

Beijing claims neutrality in the conflict but has emerged as a key economic lifeline for the isolated Russian economy and a staunch diplomatic partner for Moscow as both push back against what they see as containment from the West.

When a Russian lawmaker last month expressed his hope that Putin’s symbolic first overseas trip of his new term would be to China, Putin said he would take that “into account.”

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russia's President Vladimir Putin attend an event at Beijing's Great Hall of the People in October 2023.

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Putin last visited Beijing in October for the Belt and Road Forum. Xi made a state visit to Moscow last March after entering his third term as Chinese president.

Lavrov also met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier Tuesday.

Wang touted the countries’ ties as being elevated to “the highest level in history,” and alluded to their shared views on the United States by saying they would “oppose a Cold War mentality,” according to comments made during a joint news conference following their meeting, cited by Chinese state media.

The two sides discussed Ukraine and agreed that international meetings on the war ignoring Moscow’s interests “are futile,” Lavrov told the conference, according to Tass.

Wang told his counterpart that China supports holding an international peace conference “recognized by both Russia and Ukraine,” with “equal participation by all parties and where all peace plans are discussed fairly,” according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

The remarks come as questions mount about how to end the war in Ukraine.

Previous rounds of international peace conferences have been backed by Kyiv and not included Moscow, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seeks broad support for his peace formula, which calls for the complete withdrawal of Russian troops.

China has maintained dialogue with Switzerland about an upcoming international peace conference, according to state media, but previously said such talks should be recognized by both Ukraine and Russia.

This story has been updated with additional information.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/09/china/xi-jinping-lavrov-russia-china-ukraine-intl-hnk

사견

이 기사를 간단히 요약해 보자면 중국의 시진핑과 러시아의 라브로프가 베이징에서 만나고, 양국 간의 경제, 무역 및 외교적 관계에 대해 서로 논의를 하였습니다. 그 결과 중국과 러시아의 둘 사이가 더욱 가까워 진 것을 확인할 수 있습니다. 또한, 러시아의 우크라이나 전쟁 후에 이러한 일이 생긴 것을 보았을 때 서양의 통제에 대항하기 위해서 중국과 러시아가 협력한 것으로 보입니다. 또한, 이번 회담에서는 우크라이나 문제에 대한 국제 평화 회의 중요성도 논의되었습니다.

저는 이러한 기사를 읽고 중국과 러시아의 관계가 더욱 강화되고 가까워졌다는 것을 알 수 있었습니다. 중국의 경우 지금 지속적인 성장을 하고 있는데 러시아와 협력하게 되면 공산주의체제가 더 강해질 수도 있겠다 라는 생각을 하였습니다. 아직은 어떤 일이 일어날지 모르지만, 천천히 지켜봐야 할 것 같습니다.

[최민규(경영)]

자국의 이익을 위해서 결이 비슷한 국가끼리 힘을 합치는 것 같습니다. 우리나라에 반가운 소식은 아닌 것 같습니다. 국민을 위해 국제 정세와 앞으로의 관계를 염두에 두고 편가르기가 아닌 실리적 외교를 했으면 하는 바람입니다. 영문 기사를 요약해 주셔서 감사드립니다!

[현승용]

우리가 위치하는 동북아의 정세는 한미일 동맹과 중북러의 결속으로 더욱 심화되어 전개되는 양상이란다.
영문기사 번역과 분석 머찌다~^^

[심경민(경영)]

중국과 러시아가 더 깊은 관계가 되었다니 마음이 조금 무겁네요.. 앞으로의 정치가 어떻게 흘러갈지 궁금해지네요..! 영어 기사는 처음보는데 혹시 해외 유학파이신가요? 궁금해서 여쭤봅니다! 되게 신선하게 번역하면서 읽었습니다!!

[2210606 석가경 (경영)]

Wow! So interesting!!! Russa and China are both communist countries. I'm afraid it's a union of the two.