Russia and China defend democratic world order – Putin

The “world’s majority” shares the approach of Moscow and Beijing to international affairs, the Russian president has said

Russia and China are helping build a more just international system, President Vladimir Putin told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday. The Russian leader and China’s top diplomat met on the sidelines of a BRICS security meeting in St. Petersburg.

The cooperation between Moscow and Beijing is “of mutually beneficial and equal nature,” according to Putin. The neighbors also coordinate their actions in the international arena, he said, adding that relations between the two nations “are developing quite successfully in all fields.”

“Russia and China jointly defend the principles of a just democratic world order based on international law, sovereignty, equality,” the president said. This approach is widely shared by the nations of the Global South and the “world’s majority,” he believes.

Many nations who share this approach to international relations are seeking to join BRICS or at least cooperate with it, Putin told the Chinese diplomat. Earlier on Friday, the Russian president said that as many as 34 nations had shown interest in BRICS and that talks are ongoing about potential partnerships.

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China vows ‘balanced’ approach to Ukraine conflict

Founded in 2009 by Russia, China, India and Brazil, BRICS was joined by South Africa the following year. In 2024, the group further expanded to include Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Ethiopia. A number of countries, of which Türkiye is the latest, have formally applied to join the group.

Wang praised the “high dynamics” of the bilateral relations during the meeting and called Russia and China “the most important factor behind the strengthening multipolarity in the world.” The Chinese top diplomat arrived in Russia earlier this week. He also met Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu.

During his talks with Shoigu, Wang said that his nation “has always maintained an objective and impartial attitude towards the Ukrainian issue” and vowed to promote a balanced and rational approach towards reaching an early ceasefire.

In May, Beijing and Brasilia jointly issued a six-point peace plan for settling the Ukraine conflict focused on “dialogue and negotiation” as the only way out of the crisis. The plan was welcomed by Shoigu during the meeting on Thursday. Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky blasted the initiative as “destructive” and accused China and Brazil of “colluding” with Russia.