By The South Asia Times

BEIJING - China and Russia have pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation and coordinate their positions on international and regional issues, including through multilateral forums, during talks between their foreign ministers in Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, China’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on Wednesday to discuss bilateral relations, international cooperation and regional security issues, according to the ministry’s statement, according to Global Times.

Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, congratulated Russia on successfully holding its State Duma elections and completing what he described as an important domestic political agenda.

He said meetings between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in May and August had provided strategic guidance for the continued development of the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership.

Wang also highlighted China’s preparations to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Shenzhen next month, expressing confidence that the gathering would promote regional cooperation and advance efforts to build an Asia-Pacific community.

He said Beijing was ready to work with Moscow and other members of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia to promote multilateralism and contribute to improving global governance.

Lavrov said cooperation between Russia and China had produced positive results under the guidance of their presidents and served the fundamental interests of both countries.

He reaffirmed Moscow’s support for China’s APEC host year and said Russia was prepared to deepen coordination with Beijing through the United Nations, the Group of 20, APEC and the BRICS bloc.

Such cooperation would help the two countries uphold what Lavrov described as international fairness and justice, according to the Chinese statement.

The two ministers also coordinated positions on upcoming high-level exchanges and international and regional flashpoints, reaching what Beijing described as new common understandings. The statement did not specify the issues discussed or provide details of the planned exchanges.

The meeting underscores the continued efforts by Beijing and Moscow to align their diplomatic positions and strengthen cooperation across international institutions as both countries seek a greater role in shaping global governance.