Foreign Ministers of Russia, China and India Hold Productive Bilateral Meetings at G20 Ministerial

June 7, 2022 (EIRNS)—A number of very productive bilateral meetings have already taken place at the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Bali, Indonesia today. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Russian and Indian counterparts, Sergey Lavrov and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar respectively, as well as with the foreign minister of Argentina and the EU High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (and EU Commission Vice President) Josep Borrell. According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, at least ten more meetings were planned, including with U.S., France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.

Zhao reported that in their meeting, Wang and Jaishankar had agreed to follow previous agreements reached regarding the Western side of the India-China border (along which there has been conflict) according to the principles of “mutual and equal security.” India and China are important neighbors, Zhao emphasized, and have the ability to maintain peace and tranquility along their common border. Other bilateral and international issues were also discussed.

As reported by TASS, Sergey Lavrov reported that he had briefed Wang Yi on the status of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine and that the two had discussed the Western response to Russia’s efforts to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine. Both agreed that the imposition of unilateral sanctions that circumvented the United Nations was unacceptable. They also emphasized that their governments continue to strengthen their strategic relationship and are prepared to continue deepening their foreign policy coordination.

In remarks reported by Global Times today, Wang Yi said that in his meetings with both Lavrov and Jaishankar, he stressed three main issues of concern regarding Ukraine. One is that China rejects using the Ukrainian crisis to instigate a Cold War mentality. Second, there can be no comparison of the Ukrainian crisis with the Taiwan issue. He pointed to the hypocrisy of some nations that emphasize the issue of sovereignty on the Ukraine question, but constantly challenge China’s sovereignty and the One China principle on Taiwan. Third, he said, China opposes using the Ukraine crisis as an excuse to impose unilateral sanctions on China or on any other country. Wang reported that he told Jaishankar that in today’s increasingly complex situation, the world needs solidarity and dialogue rather than division and confrontation.