Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visits Beijing to emphasize ties with strongest political ally
Apr 8, 2024
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is visiting Beijing to display the strength of ties with close diplomatic ally China amid Moscow's grinding war against Ukraine
BEIJING (AP) — Russian Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov
arrived in Beijing Monday to display the strength of ties with close diplomatic ally China amid Moscow’s grinding war against Ukraine.The two continent-sized authoritarian states, increasingly in dispute with democracies, seek to gain influence in Africa, the Middle East and South America. China has backed Russia’s claim that President Vladimir Putin launched
his assault
in 2022 because of Western provocations, without producing any solid evidence.Russian state news agency Tass said the ministers would “discuss the situation in Ukraine and the Asia-Pacific region, issues of bilateral cooperation and interaction in the international arena,” quoting Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.
Lavrov is expected to meet with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, who has visited Russia during the conflict and maintained
China's line
of not dubbing the Russian war in Ukraine an invasion.China has at times taken an equally combative tone against the U.S. and its allies. China and Russia have held joint military drills, and are seen as seeking to supplant democracies with dictatorships in areas where they wield influence.
Despite its clear backing of Russia in the Ukraine war, China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters Monday that “China has an objective and fair position on the Ukraine issue.”
“We have been actively promoting peace talks and political solutions. China is not a creator or party to the Ukraine crisis, and we have not and will not do anything to profit from it,” Mao told reporters at a daily briefing.
China has also said it wasn't providing Russia with arms or military assistance, although it has maintained robust
economic connections
with Moscow, alongside India and other countries.“We have always controlled the export of dual-use items in accordance with the law,” Mao said, referring to industrial items that can be used for both industrial or military purposes, such as drones.
“The relevant country should not smear or attack the normal relations between China and Russia,” Mao said. “The relevant country” was a reference to the U.S., Russia and China’s chief geopolitical rival.
In a phone call last week with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, U.S. President Joseph Biden pressed China over its defense relationship with Russia, which is seeking to rebuild its industrial base as it continues
its invasion of Ukraine
. And he called on Beijing to wield its influence over North Korea to rein in the isolated and erratic nuclear power.Adding to the tension between the two countries, U.S. lawmakers generated
new legislation that would ban
TikTok, the popular social media application, if its China-based owner ByteDance doesn’t sell its stakes in the platform within six months of the bill’s enactment.Lawmakers are concerned Chinese authorities could force ByteDance to hand over data on the 170 million Americans who use TikTok.
All Chinese firms, especially those in the social media sphere, are obligated to hand over user data to the government.
MORE NEWS
Dinosaur's rare skeleton is one of the world's most expensive fossils, fetches over USD 47 million against expected estimate worth around USD 9 million
Nanotyrannus was about half the length of an adult T. rex, and the two creatures coexisted during the Cretaceous period some 67 million years ago.
Eric Swalwell controversy: Who is Stephen Cloobeck? Why has FBI raided billionaire donor's Beverly Hills mansion?
Stephen Cloobeck, who founded the Diamond Resorts International timeshare company and ran last year for California governor, contributed more than $23,000 to Swalwell’s congressional campaigns since 2017, federal campaign finance records show.
TVS Motor’s Venu Srinivasan and daughter Lakshmi file caveats against each other over inheritance
Venu Srinivasan and his daughter Lakshmi Venu have initiated caveats against each other regarding family business matters. The filings occurred in Chennai’s civil and commercial courts earlier this month. While Venu and his son Sudarshan claim a previous agreement exists, Lakshmi is advocating for a fair settlement. Mallika and Lakshmi have expressed their intention for an amicable resolution through discussions.
We are aware of everything, will decide: Supreme Court on Chief Election Commissioner row
The Supreme Court has issued a notice regarding a plea from Trinamool Congress MP Dola Sen. The plea challenges the changes made to Form 6 by the Election Commission of India. During the hearing, senior advocates presented arguments on the perceived tampering of electoral roll forms. The Election Commission defended its actions, asserting that decisions were made unanimously.
Delhi may raise agricultural land circle rates to ₹5 crore per acre
The proposed changes seek to bridge the gap between official land valuations and market prices across Delhi’s districts and localities
Nations get moving on Paris Climate Accord, but the pace is slow: UNFCCC
The reports assess the progress countries have made towards tackling climate change and achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. Countries are investing in the clean energy transition, adapting to the impacts of climate change and building resilience, and there are international financial flows to climate action, the reports said.
Congress says Election Commission of India's 'affidavit to Supreme Court deceptive'
Congress has accused the Election Commission of India of engaging in deceptive practices related to Form 6. The party spokesperson Jairam Ramesh highlighted inconsistencies in the ECI's affidavit submitted in the Supreme Court. Ramesh criticised the ECI for claiming unanimity in decision-making while revealing widespread media allegations of malpractice. The allegations suggest serious legal violations by the Chief Election Commissioner.
India in striking distance of 8% growth as reforms boost economy: Shaktikanta Das
Das said the BFSI sector has a crucial role to play in India's journey from a lower-middle-income economy to a high-income economy, through its intermediation in allocation of financial resources. He said the sector would be required to support India's next-gen Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), be the frontline of green and transition finance and become the catalyst for democratising financial inclusion to support this journey.
Grand Theft Auto VI may be locked at 30 FPS on PS5, Xbox Series X, Series S and PS5 Pro: Report
Grand Theft Auto VI is set to release on November 19, 2026, exclusively for the latest gaming consoles. There are indications that the game could be limited to 30 FPS, which may impact overall gaming experiences. However, it is expected to showcase incredible graphics and a richly populated open world. Although a PC version is still under wraps, it could potentially deliver superior performance on advanced setups.