jordan pulse -
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in China on Tuesday for a two-day visit during which the two countries will "coordinate" their positions on current international issues, according to Beijing.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs published photos of Lavrov disembarking from his plane upon his arrival in China.
Lavrov's visit comes amid intense diplomatic activity centered on the crisis in the Middle East, noting that China and Russia are allies of Iran and adversaries of the United States. On Monday, Lavrov held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, according to his office.
On Tuesday, China is hosting a series of visits from foreign leaders concerned to varying degrees by the repercussions of events in the Middle East, including the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and Vietnamese President To Lam.
During his talks with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged that his country would play a "constructive role" in promoting peace talks in the Middle East and contributing to "restoring peace and tranquility in the Gulf region," according to Chinese state media.
Chinese diplomacy has been credited with an important role in the current ceasefire between Iran and the United States and in organizing the talks between them, despite extreme discretion regarding the details of its movements.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Russian counterpart "will exchange views and coordinate positions on strengthening bilateral relations, cooperation in various fields, and international and regional issues of common interest."
He added, "In recent years, the two countries have continued to deepen their relations of good-neighborliness and lasting friendship, and expand the scope of their comprehensive strategic coordination."