TASHKENT — Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on May 24 highlighted the strength of their bilateral ties and common positions on international issues in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

As to the upcoming visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin, China is willing to closely cooperate with Russia so as to further elevate the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, Wang said to Lavrov on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers.

China and Russia need to accelerate connecting the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Eurasian Economic Union for both sides to reap the benefits, Wang said.

Noting the close strategic coordination on international and regional issues between the two countries, Wang said China and Russia have become indispensible factors in preserving global stability and should together guard basic international rules so as to promote the political settlement of regional and international issues.

The development of the SCO increases peace and stability in the world, Wang said, adding that China and Russia will maintain close coordination and support the SCO summit in Tashkent, so as to demonstrate the group’s vitality and attractiveness.

Lavrov said Russia prioritises relations with China, noting the frequent high-level contacts between both countries and vigorous cooperation in a variety of fields.

The Russian minister said that both China and Russia have played a responsible role in regional and international affairs, and have promoted world peace and stability.

Russia supports the concerned parties to solve disputes in the South China Sea through talks on the basis of existing bilateral and multilateral agreements, Lavrov added.

He also agreed on pushing forward the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination and advancing Eurasian development.