Sergey Lavrov meets Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi

Photo: MFA

Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers Council:

“On April 28, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers Council meeting.

The parties praised the current state of bilateral relations, which are developing amidst ongoing global turbulence. They also discussed the progress in implementing the agreements reached by President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of China Xi Jinping, including current issues of practical cooperation.

Special focus was placed on the preparations for the Chinese president’s upcoming official visit to Russia to attend the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The ministers noted the key importance of the leaders’ diplomacy for further deepening the relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between the two countries, including coordination in the international arena.

An in-depth discussion took place on the current state and development prospects of BRICS, with the parties noting the association’s growing international authority and its role in developing a constructive dialogue regarding the global agenda. Additionally, the sides reaffirmed mutual intention to further step up coordination in the UN, SCO, BRICS, and other major international organisations and multilateral formats.

The conversation took place in an atmosphere of trust typical of Russia-China dialogue.”

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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s opening remarks at the meeting with Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China Wang Yi on the sidelines of the BRICS Council.

Rio de Janeiro, April 28, 2025

“Mr Minister,

Dear friend,

Colleagues,

Indeed, we meet regularly and frequently, which allows us to remain in good shape.

You said that we are likely to live for a long time in an era of change. As far as I know, there is an old Chinese proverb that says, “God forbid you should live in an era of change.” But that saying dates back a long time. Today, China is one of the main drivers of global change, and perhaps such change is indeed necessary.

As you mentioned, there is an ongoing struggle between those trying to preserve a unipolar system, rooted in colonial and neocolonial practices long used by the West to conduct world affairs, and those who are working to build a just, multipolar world order. This new order must be based, as stated in the UN Charter, on the principle of sovereign equality among all states.

Together with China, our BRICS and SCO partners, and other allies, we are active participants in this transformation and stand at the forefront of the movement for justice and equality. This imposes a special responsibility on us, especially in fulfilling the objectives set by the leaders of our countries.

We look forward to the official visit of President Xi Jinping to the Russian Federation to take part in the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, for which we are actively preparing.”

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