CHINESE Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Russian opposite number Sergey Lavrov have discussed relations with the United States and the war in Ukraine at a meeting in Beijing.

Sunday’s talks took place in the run-up to a meeting of foreign ministers from members of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO).

“The parties discussed relations with the United States and prospects for resolving the Ukrainian crisis,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.

“The importance of strengthening close co-ordination between the two countries in the international arena, including in the United Nations and its security council, the SCO, Brics, the G20 and Apec, was emphasised,” the statement added.

A full summit of the SCO is set to take place in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin on June 25 and 26.

Mr Wang said: “As the current rotating presidency, China is willing to work with Russia and other member states to prepare for the Tianjin summit, plan future development directions, empower co-operation in various fields and promote the construction of the SCO to a new level.”

He said that China and Russia were also planning a series of events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of their World War II victory over German and Japanese aggression and to safeguard the correct historical narrative on the conflict.

The close contact between the two countries aims to “promote the development and revitalisation of each other and jointly respond to the challenges brought about by a turbulent and changing world,” China’s Foreign Ministry said.

“Russia will continue to fully support China in holding the rotating presidency of the SCO, enhance communication and collaboration within the framework of the SCO and others, and ensure the complete success of the Tianjin summit,” Mr Lavrov said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that Mr Wang and Mr Lavrov had also exchanged views on the Korean peninsula and the Iranian nuclear issue.

China and Russia declared a “no limits” partnership in February 2022 when President Vladimir Putin visited Beijing.

Mr Wang said: “The China-Russia relation is one of the most stable, mature and strategically valuable major power relationships in today’s world and both sides have always viewed and promoted co-peration in various fields from a historical depth, strategic height and long-term perspective.”