China sends top envoy Wang Yi to Russia for security talks

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China's top diplomat Wang Yi is visiting Russia, as it seeks continued support for its war on Ukraine.

A close ally of Moscow, Beijing is accused of supporting Russia indirectly during the war, which it denies.

Any bid to end the war must take into account Moscow's interests, Mr Wang and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov were quoted as saying after a meeting.

Russian media said Mr Wang's trip would also pave the way for President Vladimir Putin's visit to China soon.

This comes after Mr Putin met North Korea's Kim Jong Un amid US fears they could strike an arms deal.

After Monday's talks between Mr Wang and Mr Lavrov, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement: "The sides discussed in detail the situation in Ukraine and noted the futility of attempts to settle the crisis without taking account of Russia's interests and, more particularly, its participation".

 

Earlier this month Mr Putin said he expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, but did not say when.

Some observers believe he is likely to attend the Belt and Road Forum next month.

He has not travelled abroad since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him in March over war crimes in Ukraine. Mr Putin last ventured onto foreign soil in December 2022 when he visited Belarus and Kyrgyzstan.

China's foreign ministry said Mr Wang is in Russia for four days for "strategic security consultations".

While China is keen on seeing an end to the Ukraine war so it can repair its relations with Europe, it also wants to "separate that outcome from determining who is to blame for the war", since it is sympathetic to Russia, noted Rorry Daniels, managing director of the Asia Society Policy Institute.

"Inviting Putin to China is a way to show support for Russia but that support must also be framed as a legitimate attempt to get Russia to the negotiating table so that China doesn't worsen its position with the Europeans," she said.

 

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