Foreign Minister Lavrov says global order under severe strain at talks in Beijing with China’s Wang

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks in Beijing on strengthening bilateral cooperation and coordinating positions on major global issues, including Ukraine and the Middle East. The meeting underscored both countries’ push to deepen strategic ties and expand collaboration within multilateral forums such as the UN, BRICS, and the G20.

Reuters

April 16, 2026

Foreign Minister Lavrov says global order under severe strain at talks in Beijing with China’s Wang

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting in Beijing, China April 14, 2026.

Russian Foreign Ministry/Reuters

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday (April 14). Lavrov arrived in Beijing for two-day visit.

"I completely agree with you that today the foundations of international relations are being severely tested. One need only look at what happened at the beginning of the year in Latin America, in Venezuela, and at what is happening now in the Middle East," Lavrov said.

According to Russian Foreign Ministry statement, Lavrov and Wang planned to discuss bilateral cooperation and cooperation in multilateral forums such as the United Nations, BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the G20, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

China and Russia declared a "no limits" partnership in February 2022 when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Beijing, days before he sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine. Putin has sometimes described China as an "ally."

In its annual threat assessment, U.S. intelligence agencies cast China and Russia as the main competitors for Washington on everything from the Arctic and artificial intelligence to space and nuclear weapons.

-Reuters