On May 10, 2012, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Beijing.
Yang spoke highly of the positive development of Sino-Russian relations and expressed satisfaction with the fruitful results of cooperation in various fields. Yang pointed out that the current development of bilateral relations faces both important opportunities and many challenges. The two sides will comply with the important consensus reached by President Hu Jintao and President Putin on the development of Sino-Russian relations and meet the new demand of the development of bilateral relations to enhance communication, coordination and cooperation, push forward the Sino-Russian comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination and make greater contributions to the development of both countries and safeguarding regional and world peace, security and stability.
Yang said that President Putin will pay a state visit to China soon at the invitation of President Hu Jintao. Yang expressed belief that with the joint efforts of both sides, the visit will push Sino-Russian relations to make new and important achievements.
Lavrov said that Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination has maintained rapid development at a high level, with close high-level contacts and sound consultation and cooperation mechanisms, which gives strong impetus to pragmatic cooperation and coordination on major issues. In the new situation, Russia is willing to work together with China to strengthen exchanges at all levels and cooperation in various fields. In particular, both sides should take the opportunity of President Putin's visit to China to push forward Russia-China relations.
Both sides believed that they should give full play to their leaders' regular meeting mechanism and focus on cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, energy, high-tech, innovation, humanities, and localities to comprehensively deepen pragmatic cooperation and enhance the quality of cooperation.
The two foreign ministers discussed the preparatory work of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Beijing, pledging to strengthen communication and coordination to make the summit a success. The two sides also exchanged views on major international and regional hotspot issues. Both sides believed that as the current international situation is undergoing complex and profound changes, China and Russia should continue to steadfastly defend the Charter of the United Nations and the norms governing international relations, further strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs and jointly safeguard world and regional peace and stability, to promote the building of a multi-polar world and democracy of international relations.
After the talks, the two foreign ministers jointly met the press.