“The possibility of a formalized political-military partnership between Russia and China cannot be ruled out”
DESPARDES News Monitor – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will meet with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on May 13 in Sochi as part of his official visit to Russia, Moscow said on Thursday.
China and Russia face different levels of geopolitical and trade challenges from the US.
The ministers “will place particular emphasis” on preparing Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia, according to Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
Lavrov and Wang will discuss Venezuela, Syria, Afghanistan, as well as the situation on the Korean Peninsula. The meeting will also focus on the issue of preserving the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan on Iran nuclear program, she added.
Iran was slapped with “zero tolerance” sanctions by the Trump Administration in November.
International sanctions were imposed on Russia during the Ukrainian crisis in 2014.
Venezuela, where both countries have sizable stakes is witnessing socio-economic upheaval and a post-failed coup situation.
Russia and China also have stakes in Iran, Afghanistan and Syria- all three countries where the US upped the ante.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Wang’s 2-day visit, which will start on May 12, will set a stage for the annual exchange of visits by top leaders and to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of China-Russia diplomatic ties.
Russia and China have growing cooperation in political, economic, and military affairs amid reports that “Putin and Xi are forging stronger ties at a time when Western relations in the era of Trump and populism are heavily strained, says an analysis on the Brookings Institution website.
“The possibility of a formalized political-military partnership between Russia and China cannot be ruled out”, it adds.
According to some, Russia and China’s relationship is no longer limited and tactical—and not a marriage of convenience as some Western analysts think.
