Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, reaffirming their nations’ deepening partnership in the face of mounting global instability. The meeting focused on security in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as bilateral and multilateral cooperation through blocs such as BRICS and the G20.

Lavrov praised the “global reach and strategic nature” of Moscow-Beijing relations, saying they were “even more in demand” given today’s shifting geopolitical landscape. “These relations require our constant dialogue in the spirit of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction, as our leaders have instructed us to do,” he said.

The ministers also reportedly discussed joint positions on regional conflicts and economic resilience, continuing their efforts to present a unified front in contrast to Western alliances.