Moscow to deepen ties with China

 

 

Russia’s foreign minister has said Moscow will focus on developing relations with China, though would consider offers from the west to re-establish ties.

Sergei Lavrov, in a question and answer session at an event in Moscow, said western countries had espoused “russophobia” since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

Russia was working to replace goods imported from western countries, he said, and in future, would depend only on “reliable” countries not beholden to the west.

If they [the west] want to offer something in terms of resuming relations, then we will seriously consider whether we will need it or not,” Lavrov said, according to a transcript on the foreign ministry’s website.

Lavrov set down grievances with western countries that he said were determined to change the rules of international relations to Russia’s detriment.

We must cease being dependent in any way on supplies of absolutely everything from the west for ensuring the development of critically important sectors for security, the economy or our homeland’s social sphere.”

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, pictured left, and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are seen during a meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2019.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, pictured left, and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are seen during a meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2019. Photograph: Ricardo Moraes/ReutersLavrov said Moscow’s goal now is to further develop ties with China.Now that the west has taken a ‘dictator’s position’, our economic ties with China will grow even faster.

In addition to direct revenue for the state budget, this is a chance to develop (Russia’s) far east and eastern Siberia.”

Lavrov said Russia would count on “only ourselves and on countries which have proved themselves reliable and do not ‘dance to some other piper’s music’. If western countries change their minds and propose some form of cooperation, we can then decide.”Speaking to Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency, Lavrov added:

Now the centre of world development has shifted to Eurasia. At the moment, we have the most extensive network of partnerships in the Eurasian region. We must rely on them in the further development of our country, its transport, transit, and logistics capabilities. I am convinced that this is the right way.”

“Our western partners have proved, and not for the first time, that they are incapable of negotiating,” he added.