China says changing global situation demands contacts between Beijing, Moscow

MOSCOW

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Thursday that the changing international situation requires the maintenance of contact between Beijing and Moscow.

Speaking with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of a conference of countries neighboring Afghanistan in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Qin assessed as "fruitful" the recent state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Russia.

He said China is ready to keep the pace necessary for the implementation of the "strategic agreements," reached during Xi’s visit.

The Chinese president paid a three-day state visit to Russia on March 21.

For his part, Lavrov said the Russian-Chinese ties "demonstrate sustainability."

The minister praised agreements reached during the visit of the Chinese leader to Russia as "historic," noting that they demand an intensification of cooperation in all directions, including in regional affairs.