As you read the two links below, keep in mind “The Diplomat” article and my observation from yesterday
The Diplomat article is speculative based on some very limited observations, but, the purpose for the article could be to create the narrative of a divide between Russia and China that can be exploited by the US, for public consumption.
MOSCOW – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, to discuss a wide range of topics, including relations with the U.S. and the Ukrainian conflict, the Russian foreign ministry said on Thursday.
The ministers met on the sidelines of the G20 ministerial meeting in South Africa.
“The parties praised the development of political dialogue and practical interaction between Russia and China as a stabilizing factor against the backdrop of continuing turbulence in the global system,” the ministry said.
Earlier on Thursday, Russian state-run agency TASS reported as Lavrov saying that his next meeting with Wang would take place in Moscow soon.
In late January, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed how to build ties with U.S. President Donald Trump, along with prospects for a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine, and Moscow’s firm support for Beijing’s position on Taiwan. REUTERS
TASS
JOHANNESBURG, February 20. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi have agreed to meet in Moscow.
“We have agreed on your visit to Moscow. So our next contact will be already in Russia,” Lavrov said during talks with his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the G20 ministerial meeting in South Africa.
Lavrov pointed out that the beginning of the new year was “very fruitful” for the Russia-China relations.
“There is no doubt that further work in the course of 2025 will yield results on the basis of the tasks defined by [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin and [Chinese] President Xi Jinping, including during the recent in-depth New Year contacts,” the top Russian diplomat said. He pointed out that relations between Moscow and Beijing “have become and will remain an increasingly important factor in stabilizing the international situation and preventing it from sliding toward total confrontation.”
“Our strategic relations will extend to our work in the UN, in particular in the Security Council, in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, in BRICS, in ASEAN and, of course, in the G20, which is an important step in promoting the principles of multipolarity and getting our Western colleagues used to honest, fair, balanced and mutually respectful work,” Lavrov emphasized.