China-Russia Are Getting Closer, Deputy Foreign Minister Yucheng: It Doesn't Matter How The International Situation Changes

President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin. (Wikimedia Commons/Kremlin.ru/Presidential Press and Information Office)

JAKARTA - Beijing plans to enhance strategic partnership and cooperation with Moscow, despite changes on the international stage, China's Deputy Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said at a meeting with Russia's Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov.

"No matter how the international situation changes, China will remain committed to the previously adopted policies aimed at cooperating with Russia to enhance strategic cooperation," he said, according to a statement issued by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, cited from TASS, April 19.

"Implementing mutually beneficial cooperation, jointly promoting common interests and facilitating the construction of a new model of international relations and a common-sense community," continued Le Yucheng.

The senior diplomat added that the value of trade between China and Russia for the first quarter of this year reached 38.2 billion US dollars, an increase of 30 percent over the same period last year.

According to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two diplomats also discussed ways to deepen cooperation within the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as the situation in Ukraine and other regional and global issues.

It is known that Russia is experiencing successive economic sanctions from various countries and international institutions, following the invasion of Ukraine since February 24, which has sparked worldwide condemnation.