Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had his first telephone conversation with his new Chinese counterpart Qin Gang, who took over the leadership of diplomacy from Beijing on December 31, the Russian MFA announced, according to the EFE agency, Agerpres reads.

„The Russian minister congratulated his Chinese colleague on his recent appointment and wished him success in his new position,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Lavrov and Qin, former Chinese ambassador to the US, condemned the policy of Washington and its allies of imposing „hegemony” in the world and provoking a „confrontation” with Russia and China. They also denounced the interference in the internal affairs of these two countries and the attempts of the West to limit their development through sanctions and other „illegitimate methods”.

„Moscow and Beijing have found the identity of their positions on world issues”, the Russian Foreign Ministry emphasizes, adding that Lavrov invited his Chinese counterpart to visit Russia.

At the end of last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin had a video conference meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, after which the Kremlin announced that the Chinese President will visit Russia in the spring.

The relations between Moscow and Beijing are „the best in history and a model of cooperation between the great powers of the 21st century”, Putin appreciated during that discussion.

Agerpres