Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing on July 13, 2025. Photo: from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The China-Russia relation is one of the most stable, mature and strategically valuable major power relationships in today's world, and both sides have always viewed and promoted cooperation in various fields from a historical depth, strategic height, and long-term perspective, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi while meeting his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Beijing on Sunday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the current focus for the two countries is on preparing for the next phase of high-level exchanges, deepening comprehensive strategic coordination, promoting respective development and revitalization, and jointly addressing the challenges brought about by a turbulent and changing world.

Wang welcomed Lavrov's visit to China to attend the Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States, noting the SCO is an important platform for conducting comprehensive strategic cooperation, advocating multilateralism, strengthening practical cooperation, and enhancing solidarity among the Global South.

“As the current rotating presidency, China is willing to work with Russia and other member states to prepare for the Tianjin Summit, plan future development directions, empower cooperation in various fields, and promote the construction of the SCO to a new level,” Wang said.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced on Saturday that the Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the SCO Member States will be held in Tianjin on July 15. At the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, foreign ministers of other SCO member states and heads of SCO’s permanent bodies will attend the meeting. The participants will exchange views on SCO cooperation across various fields, as well as major international and regional issues.

Wang said that as this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, both sides will also organize a series of commemorative activities for the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II to uphold the correct historical narrative of the war.

Lavrov said Russia is willing to work with China to deepen cooperation in various fields under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, continuously achieving new results in Russia-China relations. “Russia will continue to fully support China in its role as the rotating presidency of the SCO, strengthen communication and cooperation within the framework of the SCO, and ensure the success of the Tianjin Summit,” he said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (right) has arrived in Beijing on July 13, 2025 to participate in a meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry's X account

Lavrov has arrived in Beijing on Sunday to participate in a meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Russian media reported on Sunday.

According to TASS, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced earlier that a meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the SCO member states is scheduled to be held in Tianjin on July 14 to15. The meeting will mark a key stage in preparations for the SCO summit to be held in Tianjin on August 30 to September 1. Zakharova also noted that Lavrov is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the event.

The SCO foreign ministers plan to discuss the current situation and prospects of the development of SCO activity, Zakharova noted. They will focus on pressing international and regional issues, including the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, according to TASS.

Wang and Lavrov met in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday on the sidelines of ministerial events within the ASEAN framework. During the meeting, Lavrov said that Russia would fully support China in assuming the rotating presidency of the SCO, jointly prepare for the next phase of high-level exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and strengthen communication and coordination within frameworks such as BRICS, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.


Global Times