Russia, China pledge to strengthen ties after fizzled rebel in opposition to Kremlin

TAIPEI, Taiwan — China and Russia pledged to strengthen cooperation on Sunday, a day after a short rebel by a Russian mercenary commander in opposition to the Kremlin fizzled out.

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko made a beforehand unannounced go to to Beijing, the place he met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang to debate “international and regional issues of common concern,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry mentioned on its web site.

It was unclear whether or not Rudenko’s go to had been deliberate or was in response to a rebel on Saturday throughout which Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of personal mercenary military Wagner Group, ordered his troops to march on Moscow within the biggest problem to President Vladimir Putin in his greater than twenty years in energy. Prigozhin in a while Saturday reached a cope with the Kremlin to enter exile and sounded the retreat.

China has not formally commented on the disaster in Russia.

Russia and China, whereas not formal allies, have maintained shut ties all through Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, which China has refused to sentence.

Rudenko additionally held talks with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu. The two diplomats “exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern such as the Ukrainian crisis,” in response to a readout of the talks by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The two sides pledged to “strengthen solidarity and cooperation” and promote the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a security-focused regional group that each Russia and China belong to, the ministry added.

“Under the complex and severe international situation, it is necessary to follow the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, communicate in a timely manner, ensure the stable and long-term relationship between the two countries and safeguard the common interests of both sides,” Ma mentioned.