Shoigu of Russia and Wang of China meet to “jointly respond to the United States”… There was no mention of the United States in the Chinese announcement.

Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian National Security Council, met with Wang Yi, Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office of the Communist Party of China and Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Beijing on the 12th and presided over the 19th Annual Strategic and Security Negotiations between China and Russia./AFP Yonhap News

Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian National Security Council, met with Wang Yi, Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office of the Chinese Communist Party and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and emphasized joint efforts to keep the United States in check.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and AFP reported that Secretary Shoigu co-chaired the 19th Annual Strategic and Security Negotiations between China and Russia with Director Wang in Beijing, China, on the 12th. This is the first high-level contact between China and Russia since former President Donald Trump was elected as the next US president.

According to AFP, Shoigu said, “Responding to the ‘dual containment’ policy of the United States and its allies targeting Russia and China is the most urgent task for both countries.” He said, “The China-Russia relationship is not the military and political alliance of the Cold War, but it goes beyond that form. It represents a model of cooperation between two great powers in today’s world.”

Russia’s Sputnik news agency reported that Shoigu noted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia and said, “China-Russia relations are one of the key elements of global security and a major factor stabilizing the international community.”

“The more complex the international situation becomes and the more external challenges there are, the more necessary it is for the two countries to unite and cooperate to safeguard common interests,” said Wang. “We will work with Russia to pay attention to changes in the international situation, maintain close communication and coordination, and cooperate multilaterally.” “We are willing to strengthen and maintain the high-level development momentum of China-Russia relations and jointly safeguard global strategic stability,” the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Director Wang said that the success of the BRICS Summit (BRICS) held in Kazan, Russia last month led to strengthening cooperation in the Global South (mainly emerging and developing countries in the Southern Hemisphere), adding, “It is important for Russia and China to maintain communication and exchange in an unstable world.” “The importance is receiving attention,” he said.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ announcement did not include any mention of the United States. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the two sides comprehensively discussed major strategic security issues of common interest and formed a new consensus and strengthened strategic mutual trust through in-depth exchange of opinions. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reported that China and Russia agreed to strengthen cooperation and jointly promote the overall development of the two countries, bilateral relations, and global security and stability.

The meeting between the two came amid predictions that President-elect Trump would take a hard line against China and call for an end to the war in Ukraine. On this day, North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un ratified the ‘Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ between North Korea and Russia.

Secretary Shoigu will stay until the 15th and will also hold the 9th meeting of the China-Russia Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Mechanism with Chen Wenqing, Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the Chinese Party, the head of China’s security. They also plan to attend the 15th China International Aerospace Expo (Zhuhai Air Show) held in Zhuhai, southern Guangdong Province, to watch the first overseas demonstration of Russia’s fifth-generation fighter Su-57.