In recent years, relations between China and Russia have evolved into a globally significant strategic cooperation, with both countries going beyond merely defending their national interests and embracing the goal of strengthening multipolarity in the international system. The most recent example of this strong cooperation was the meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa on February 20, 2025. During this meeting, the two ministers not only deepened bilateral relations, but also agreed to take important strategic steps to address global and regional dynamics.
These delegation meetings are important for further strengthening the comprehensive strategic coordination of bilateral relations. The main agenda items of these meetings were to ensure the implementation of the agreements reached earlier between the leaders of the two countries and to prepare for future talks. China and Russia seek a common stance on global issues, taking into account not only their national interests but also their strategic goals at the international level. This allows both countries to position themselves as advocates of a multipolar world order.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s emphasis on a “new era” during the meeting indicates that China-Russia relations have entered a new phase, not only bilaterally but also on a global scale.[1] Although the two countries’ strategic commitment to each other has been shaped by their long history of friendly relations, in recent years, in parallel with the changes in global dynamics, this cooperation has moved to a deeper strategic dimension. Wang Yi’s use of this statement did not only describe a relationship based on the past but also showed that China and Russia have taken steps to defend their common interests by adopting a more proactive stance in the face of global and regional crises. In this context, both countries’ goal of reshaping the international order by advocating global multipolarity is not only a strategy but also a long-term vision.
Lavrov emphasized that relations with China will deepen, and cooperation will make significant progress in the economic and political spheres.[2] Lavrov’s statement reveals that Russia intends to further develop its relationship with China and evaluate this relationship in a broader strategic context. A particularly important point is Lavrov’s appreciation of China’s global initiatives. Russia’s acceptance of China’s strategic initiatives on a global scale, such as multipolarity and providing more opportunities to emerging economies, shows how strong the common vision between the two countries is. This is an important step not only for bilateral relations, but also for both countries to increase their power projection in the world.
Lavrov also stated that they aim to deepen cooperation on multilateral platforms.[3] Global platforms such as BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the G20 will allow Russia and China to create a stronger voice at the global level and play an important role in building an alternative order to Western dominance. The steps to be taken in these platforms will not only strengthen bilateral relations but also offer important opportunities for reshaping the global balance.
To Lavrov’s statements it is necessary to add China’s objective and fair position and the importance it attaches to the “Friends for Peace” group. This approach demonstrates Russia’s strategic emphasis on multilateral cooperation and its efforts to build an effective global peace plan. Russia maintains a strong dialog with China and is committed to more effective cooperation on global peace and security issues. This reinforces the two countries’ common goals at the international level and their efforts to ensure global security and stability.
Regional issues, such as in the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific, played an important role in China and Russia’s talks.[4]Developments in these regions play a critical role in the foreign policy priorities of both countries. The meeting focused on the growing instability in the Middle East and security threats in the Asia-Pacific. China and Russia aim to develop a common approach to solving these problems. The instability in the Middle East and the effort to strike a balance against the “interventionist” policies of the United States of America form the basis of China and Russia’s joint strategy. Recognizing that the developments in the Middle East have not only regional but also global implications, the two countries aim to strengthen their military and diplomatic presence in the region. China plans to increase economic cooperation and establish closer ties with Russia on energy security, while Russia is taking steps to reduce Western influence by working with China on security issues.
In terms of the Asia-Pacific, both countries continue to pursue a common strategy against security threats in the region. China’s stance on solving regional security problems and Russia’s military and political orientations are moving in parallel. In this context, in order to balance the US influence in the region, the two countries are developing common security policies by increasing regional cooperation. Maritime security, combating terrorism in the region and military cooperation are among the main topics shaping China and Russia’s cooperation in the Asia-Pacific.
Nevertheless, the meeting at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting represents a critical moment for Russia and China to reaffirm their strategic commitment to each other in the midst of instabilities and challenges in the global system. Multilateral forums such as the G20 provide important opportunities to resolve global economic and political crises. By gathering in this forum, China and Russia aim to build a more equitable dialogue to address global economic inequalities. Both countries are also committed to deepening cooperation in such forums to ensure that the voices of developing countries are heard and to promote more inclusive growth of the global economy.
In conclusion, the China-Russia talks on February 20, 2025 are not only about strengthening bilateral relations but also about defending global multipolarity and reshaping the world order. By deepening economic, military and diplomatic cooperation, China and Russia aim to manage instability in critical regions such as the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. This cooperation reinforces efforts to build a more equitable global dialogue in multilateral platforms such as the G20. In the international arena, China and Russia aim to build an alternative order to Western dominance. This could significantly affect global power dynamics.
[1] “Wang Yi Meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov”, Ministry of Foreign Affairs The People’s Republic of China, https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjbzhd/202502/t20250222_11560491.html, (Accessed on 28.02.2025).
[2] Ibid.
[3] “Chinese, Russian FMs meet on bilateral ties”, Xinhua, https://english.news.cn/20250221/457900383b91426bb519beb6c2bb3dde/c.html, (Accessed on 28.02.2025).
[4] “Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s meeting with Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi”, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, https://mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/1998789/, (Accessed on 28.02.2025).
