Moscow: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday that the US was trying to “contain” both Russia and China with the help of other countries, but they were wary of the “game”.
Lavrov said at a press conference that the West sees both countries as threats, now Russia, and China as a systemic rival in the long run.
He said Washington is not strong enough to hold back both countries at once and is trying to mobilize Europe, Japan and others to join.
At the same time, the West is driving a wedge between Russia and China, he said. “The West is trying to sow discord in our relationship … We and China are watching all these games,” he said.
His comments underscored the strategic importance of relations with China to Russia at a time when Russian forces struggled in Ukraine and economic ties with Western countries were destroyed by successive waves of sanctions.
Ties with Beijing have never been stronger, Lavrov said, with the two countries shifting more and more trade into their own currencies to reduce their dependence on the West and exposure to sanctions. increase.
Russia and China signed a “no limits” partnership last February, and economic ties between the two countries have developed rapidly as Russia’s ties with the West have contracted.
However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly admitted that Chinese President Xi Jinping is “concerned” about Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Lavrov said the West is increasingly looking for ways to anger China.
“They have already outlined their position on Taiwan, which is absolutely unacceptable to China and international law, and they are increasingly looking for opportunities to provoke China in Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong,” he said. rice field.
“Therefore, China is fully aware that staying in the Western system and being fully dependent on the West entails very serious risks to China’s fundamental national interests of development.” – Reuters
