Top Chinese, Russian diplomats reaffirm close ties

China's top diplomat Wang Yi called on Beijing and Moscow to strengthen strategic communication and step up mutual support on issues involving each other's core interests, so as to safeguard their respective and shared interests, when he met with Sergei Shoigu, secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council, in Beijing on Sunday.

The meeting took place just two months after the two senior officials held talks in Russia, in December.

Noting that the post-World War II international order and basic norms governing international relations are facing severe challenges, Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the world is confronted by a real danger of sliding back into the "law of the jungle."

As major countries and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and Russia have the responsibility and obligation to practice true multilateralism, uphold the international system with the UN at its core, and promote the building of a more just and reasonable global governance system, Wang said.

He also expressed China's readiness to work with Russia to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and to deepen strategic coordination to push China-Russia relations to new heights in the new year.

Shoigu told Wang that Russia firmly adheres to the one-China principle, closely follows moves by hostile forces to undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and resolutely opposes Japan's accelerated attempts at "remilitarization."

He said Russia stands with China, ready to continue to firmly support each other, to deepen bilateral cooperation, and enhance coordination within multilateral mechanisms including the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS.

The two sides also had in-depth strategic communication on international and regional issues of common concern.