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Russia and China showcased their deepening ties Wednesday in a series of meetings in Moscow closely watched for signs that Beijing might offer stronger support to the Kremlin for its war in Ukraine.
The visit by Wang Yi, the Chinese Communist Party’s most senior foreign policy official, comes as the conflict in Ukraine continues to upend the global diplomatic order.
Relations between Russia and the West are at their lowest point since the Cold War, and ties between China and the U.S. are also under serious strain. Moscow suspended its participation in the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty with Washington this week. And the U.S. expressed concern in recent days that China could provide arms and ammunition to Russia.
Wang held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and met with President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking at the start of their talks, Lavrov noted that “our ties have continued to develop dynamically, and despite high turbulence in the global arena we have shown the readiness to speak in defense of each other’s interests.”
Wang responded in kind, underlining Beijing’s focus on deepening ties with Russia — a relationship it says has “no limits.”
China has pointedly refused to criticize the invasion of Ukraine — echoing Moscow’s claim that the U.
