Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at a meeting with directors of Russian non-profit organisations (July 23, 2024)
Key talking points:
🔹The role of public diplomacy has grown compared to the earlier period, primarily when it comes to maintaining a healthy atmosphere of confidence in relations with our foreign partners and explaining problems created by the West.
🔹 This applies to the the countries which we regard as unfriendly. I believe that we should use this term for governments, whereas the mood in the countries is largely determined by people’s lives and aspirations. I do not see any nation on the planet that would be unfriendly to our people in the first place.
🔹 I am aware that pubic organisations in Western countries somehow manage to maintain ties with some of their partners in Russia. This interaction is extremely important for keeping up relations at the level of civil societies and trying to understand each other.
🔹 We are beginning to see the outlines of a new multipolar world order. Nations around the world want to see their right to rule their destinies respected, and are searching for new ways of addressing various issues as alternatives to Western solutions.
🔹 The West is not ready to engage in mutually beneficial and equal cooperation. It has been seeking to hold on to its erstwhile standing which follows the path of irreversible, albeit slow, degradation. The NATO Summit in Washington provided yet another example of this process by adopting a declaration which once again emphasised the West’s unilateral approaches.
🔹 Today, Europe has been reduced to acting as Washington’s subject. Germany, for example, is the cornerstone of European politics and economy, but it still had to stomach the terrorist attacks against the Nord Stream pipelines which undermined its economic and social wellbeing. It had to pretend that this is the way it had to be.
🔹 The process of eradicating the centralised dictatorial model that America’s globalisation has morphed into will go hand in hand with regionalisation of economic processes. Preferably, in view of their interdependence with the global economy, the developments in Eurasia, Africa and Latin America ought to be coordinated and harmonised to a certain extent. #BRICS is quite capable of doing that.
🔹 We certainly believe that the United Nations remains a unique platform for universal cooperation that has no alternative. The UN Charter principles are relevant as never before.
🔹 I said earlier that Eurasia is emerging as an independent part of the multipolar and polycentric world. We are moving forward towards creating a Greater Eurasian Partnership, something that President Vladimir Putin mentioned 10 years back. Since then, this process has led to stronger ties between #EAEU, #SCO, and #ASEAN.
🔹 We trust that non-governmental and non-profit organisations will actively participate in these processes and continue to contribute to the overall efforts seeking to strengthen Russia’s position on the continent and around the world, including the promotion of the Russian language and our multiethnic culture.
Read in full
Key talking points:
🔹The role of public diplomacy has grown compared to the earlier period, primarily when it comes to maintaining a healthy atmosphere of confidence in relations with our foreign partners and explaining problems created by the West.
🔹 This applies to the the countries which we regard as unfriendly. I believe that we should use this term for governments, whereas the mood in the countries is largely determined by people’s lives and aspirations. I do not see any nation on the planet that would be unfriendly to our people in the first place.
🔹 I am aware that pubic organisations in Western countries somehow manage to maintain ties with some of their partners in Russia. This interaction is extremely important for keeping up relations at the level of civil societies and trying to understand each other.
🔹 We are beginning to see the outlines of a new multipolar world order. Nations around the world want to see their right to rule their destinies respected, and are searching for new ways of addressing various issues as alternatives to Western solutions.
🔹 The West is not ready to engage in mutually beneficial and equal cooperation. It has been seeking to hold on to its erstwhile standing which follows the path of irreversible, albeit slow, degradation. The NATO Summit in Washington provided yet another example of this process by adopting a declaration which once again emphasised the West’s unilateral approaches.
🔹 Today, Europe has been reduced to acting as Washington’s subject. Germany, for example, is the cornerstone of European politics and economy, but it still had to stomach the terrorist attacks against the Nord Stream pipelines which undermined its economic and social wellbeing. It had to pretend that this is the way it had to be.
🔹 The process of eradicating the centralised dictatorial model that America’s globalisation has morphed into will go hand in hand with regionalisation of economic processes. Preferably, in view of their interdependence with the global economy, the developments in Eurasia, Africa and Latin America ought to be coordinated and harmonised to a certain extent. #BRICS is quite capable of doing that.
🔹 We certainly believe that the United Nations remains a unique platform for universal cooperation that has no alternative. The UN Charter principles are relevant as never before.
🔹 I said earlier that Eurasia is emerging as an independent part of the multipolar and polycentric world. We are moving forward towards creating a Greater Eurasian Partnership, something that President Vladimir Putin mentioned 10 years back. Since then, this process has led to stronger ties between #EAEU, #SCO, and #ASEAN.
🔹 We trust that non-governmental and non-profit organisations will actively participate in these processes and continue to contribute to the overall efforts seeking to strengthen Russia’s position on the continent and around the world, including the promotion of the Russian language and our multiethnic culture.
Read in full
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s opening remarks at the meeting with Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Lao PDR Saleumxay Kommasith (Vientiane, July 25, 2024)
💬 I would like to thank our Lao and Chinese partners for agreeing to hold today's meeting in a trilateral format. This is an excellent opportunity for us to touch base on a wide range of issues aimed at promoting regional interconnectedness in Eurasia for the benefit of our peoples and all those who live on our continent. Additionally, we hope to discuss ways to address the challenges our countries face in strengthening food, energy and transportation security.
🇷🇺🇨🇳🇱🇦 Our three countries are united by common approaches to creating an extensive cooperation space on the continent, and strengthening cross-border transport, sales, production and logistics mechanisms.
This meeting is taking place on the sidelines of high-level #ASEAN events. The Association is a vital component of the emerging more equitable multipolar world order. ASEAN has been and remains the core of region-wide efforts aimed at ensuring a stable and secure non-bloc development of the Asia-Pacific region.
🤝 We believe that the significant potentials of Russia and China, as well as their participation in such new multilateral associations as #BRICS and the #SCO, can have a positive impact on our interaction with the Association. This will also enhance our cooperation with individual Member States of ASEAN, helping us address global and regional issues based on the comprehensive and interconnected principles of the UN Charter.
💬 I would like to thank our Lao and Chinese partners for agreeing to hold today's meeting in a trilateral format. This is an excellent opportunity for us to touch base on a wide range of issues aimed at promoting regional interconnectedness in Eurasia for the benefit of our peoples and all those who live on our continent. Additionally, we hope to discuss ways to address the challenges our countries face in strengthening food, energy and transportation security.
🇷🇺🇨🇳🇱🇦 Our three countries are united by common approaches to creating an extensive cooperation space on the continent, and strengthening cross-border transport, sales, production and logistics mechanisms.
This meeting is taking place on the sidelines of high-level #ASEAN events. The Association is a vital component of the emerging more equitable multipolar world order. ASEAN has been and remains the core of region-wide efforts aimed at ensuring a stable and secure non-bloc development of the Asia-Pacific region.
🤝 We believe that the significant potentials of Russia and China, as well as their participation in such new multilateral associations as #BRICS and the #SCO, can have a positive impact on our interaction with the Association. This will also enhance our cooperation with individual Member States of ASEAN, helping us address global and regional issues based on the comprehensive and interconnected principles of the UN Charter.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s opening remarks during his meeting with Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi (Vientiane, July 25, 2024)
💬 Our countries focused their agendas on undertaking a comprehensive effort to deliver on their national development goals, and the #RussiaChina strategic cooperation is designed to facilitate these efforts. President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of China Xi Jinping attach great importance to these relations and always keep them on their radar, including by exploring new horizons for our strategic partnership.
In May 2024, Beijing hosted summit talks between them. After that, the two Leaders had a conversation on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Astana, where they outlined the main directions for further strengthening our bilateral cooperation as well as the way we work together on the international stage.
🤝 Russia and China have been working in tandem on building a multipolar world order with better justice for all, guided by the principle of genuine multilateralism. In addition, they have been creating positive vibes within the United Nations and the Group of Twenty, while remaining proactive within #BRICS and the #SCO. There are other important international platforms too, including, of course, #ASEAN and the entire architecture revolving around this association. We share the view that we must do everything to prevent its destruction.
Today, we had a detailed conversation on this matter during our joint meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Lao PDR Saleumxay Kommasith, whose country currently chairs ASEAN.
☝️ We believe in the importance of continuing this dialogue in order to combine our efforts in countering any attempts by extra-regional forces to interfere in Southeast Asian affairs and to contribute to its wellbeing and prosperity.
💬 Our countries focused their agendas on undertaking a comprehensive effort to deliver on their national development goals, and the #RussiaChina strategic cooperation is designed to facilitate these efforts. President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of China Xi Jinping attach great importance to these relations and always keep them on their radar, including by exploring new horizons for our strategic partnership.
In May 2024, Beijing hosted summit talks between them. After that, the two Leaders had a conversation on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Astana, where they outlined the main directions for further strengthening our bilateral cooperation as well as the way we work together on the international stage.
🤝 Russia and China have been working in tandem on building a multipolar world order with better justice for all, guided by the principle of genuine multilateralism. In addition, they have been creating positive vibes within the United Nations and the Group of Twenty, while remaining proactive within #BRICS and the #SCO. There are other important international platforms too, including, of course, #ASEAN and the entire architecture revolving around this association. We share the view that we must do everything to prevent its destruction.
Today, we had a detailed conversation on this matter during our joint meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Lao PDR Saleumxay Kommasith, whose country currently chairs ASEAN.
☝️ We believe in the importance of continuing this dialogue in order to combine our efforts in countering any attempts by extra-regional forces to interfere in Southeast Asian affairs and to contribute to its wellbeing and prosperity.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🗓 On July 26, Vientiane hosted Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s annual meeting with the Foreign Ministers representing the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (#ASEAN).
One of the main outcomes of this conference consisted of the adoption of a Joint Statement on the 20th Anniversary of Russia’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, a fundamental document for the association, which provides for building a stable regional security architecture in the Asia Pacific Region.
During the meeting, the participants reviewed the performance under the Comprehensive Plan of Action to Implement the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Russian Federation Strategic Partnership in 2021-2025, and agreed to draft a new medium-term document of this kind for the next period. Discussions also focused on measures to expand practical cooperation on political, security, trade and economic matters, as well as humanitarian affairs.
The participating Foreign Ministers noted the successful launch of a new cooperation track in 2024, which deals with the digital transition. During the meeting, they placed special emphasis on research-intensive sectors and undertaking initiatives to develop smart cities. Russia’s partners praised it for holding advanced training courses for ASEAN specialists.
🌐 The participants exchanged views on the international agenda, confirming that Russia and ASEAN share converging approaches regarding the most urgent and topical global and regional challenges, and are committed to building a just world order based on the principles of international law, inclusivity and equality. In this context, Russia drew the attention of its partners to President Vladimir Putin’s initiative to create a Eurasian security framework.
The conversation also touched upon efforts to promote integration processes across Greater Eurasia. In this context, the participants discussed opportunities for expanding ASEAN’s ties with the Eurasian Economic Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (#SCO).
ASEAN thanked Russia for supporting the association’s central role in regional affairs.
🤝 As per tradition, the meeting took place in a friendly atmosphere.
#RussiaASEAN
One of the main outcomes of this conference consisted of the adoption of a Joint Statement on the 20th Anniversary of Russia’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, a fundamental document for the association, which provides for building a stable regional security architecture in the Asia Pacific Region.
During the meeting, the participants reviewed the performance under the Comprehensive Plan of Action to Implement the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Russian Federation Strategic Partnership in 2021-2025, and agreed to draft a new medium-term document of this kind for the next period. Discussions also focused on measures to expand practical cooperation on political, security, trade and economic matters, as well as humanitarian affairs.
The participating Foreign Ministers noted the successful launch of a new cooperation track in 2024, which deals with the digital transition. During the meeting, they placed special emphasis on research-intensive sectors and undertaking initiatives to develop smart cities. Russia’s partners praised it for holding advanced training courses for ASEAN specialists.
🌐 The participants exchanged views on the international agenda, confirming that Russia and ASEAN share converging approaches regarding the most urgent and topical global and regional challenges, and are committed to building a just world order based on the principles of international law, inclusivity and equality. In this context, Russia drew the attention of its partners to President Vladimir Putin’s initiative to create a Eurasian security framework.
The conversation also touched upon efforts to promote integration processes across Greater Eurasia. In this context, the participants discussed opportunities for expanding ASEAN’s ties with the Eurasian Economic Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (#SCO).
ASEAN thanked Russia for supporting the association’s central role in regional affairs.
🤝 As per tradition, the meeting took place in a friendly atmosphere.
#RussiaASEAN
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🗓 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attended the 14th Ministerial Meeting of the Member States of the East Asia Summit (#EAS) and the 31st session of the ASEAN Regional Forum (#ARF) which were held in Vientiane on July 27.
During discussions on current issues related to the situation in the Asia Pacific Region, the Russian Minister emphasised the importance of efforts to build an open and indivisible architecture of Eurasian security as one of the foundations of the multipolar international order. Apart from #ASEAN, the #SCO and the #EAEU are making a contribution to its strengthening.
❗️ He also indicated the risks to peace and stability in Asia introduced by NATO and the US-created selective bloc mechanisms. He reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to reinforcing ASEAN’s central role in the regional security system through the build-up of an equitable dialogue and practical interaction.
Participants in the EAS meeting discussed preparations for the 19th East Asia Summit scheduled to be held in Vientiane in October 2024. At previous summits, Russia proposed initiatives to create a regional epidemic response mechanism and to secure economic growth in the Asia Pacific Region by promoting tourism cooperation. Russia also suggested focusing on the development of remote territories as a possible option for long-term cooperation.
☝️ The ARF session focused on building up the ARF’s potential in counterterrorism, emergency response, and #ICT security. Russia stressed that it is unacceptable to reformat the ARF mandate, restrict certain member states’ access to its activities, or block mutually beneficial cooperation projects for political reasons.
The session approved the ARF’s working plans on countering terrorism and transnational crime for 2024-2026, emergency response for 2024-2027, and a Ministerial Statement on strengthening regional cooperation in ferry service safety.
🤝 The participants also summed up the results of the Russian-Indonesian co-chairmanship of the ARF Inter-Sessional Meetings on ICT security in 2022-2024. A number of practical initiatives to combat cybercrime was implemented during that period.
During discussions on current issues related to the situation in the Asia Pacific Region, the Russian Minister emphasised the importance of efforts to build an open and indivisible architecture of Eurasian security as one of the foundations of the multipolar international order. Apart from #ASEAN, the #SCO and the #EAEU are making a contribution to its strengthening.
❗️ He also indicated the risks to peace and stability in Asia introduced by NATO and the US-created selective bloc mechanisms. He reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to reinforcing ASEAN’s central role in the regional security system through the build-up of an equitable dialogue and practical interaction.
Participants in the EAS meeting discussed preparations for the 19th East Asia Summit scheduled to be held in Vientiane in October 2024. At previous summits, Russia proposed initiatives to create a regional epidemic response mechanism and to secure economic growth in the Asia Pacific Region by promoting tourism cooperation. Russia also suggested focusing on the development of remote territories as a possible option for long-term cooperation.
☝️ The ARF session focused on building up the ARF’s potential in counterterrorism, emergency response, and #ICT security. Russia stressed that it is unacceptable to reformat the ARF mandate, restrict certain member states’ access to its activities, or block mutually beneficial cooperation projects for political reasons.
The session approved the ARF’s working plans on countering terrorism and transnational crime for 2024-2026, emergency response for 2024-2027, and a Ministerial Statement on strengthening regional cooperation in ferry service safety.
🤝 The participants also summed up the results of the Russian-Indonesian co-chairmanship of the ARF Inter-Sessional Meetings on ICT security in 2022-2024. A number of practical initiatives to combat cybercrime was implemented during that period.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🇺🇳 The Russian Federation completed its Presidency in the United Nations Security Council on July 31. Its packed agenda revolved around three central events, with the first two of them attended by FM Sergey Lavrov.
On July 16, we held a high-level open debate titled “Multilateral cooperation in the interest of a more just, democratic and sustainable world order,” which reaffirmed the need to hold detailed discussions dealing with the underpinnings of the emerging multipolar world order, the objective to reinforce a UN-centred system of international relations, as well as the need to carry out a comprehensive review of the root causes of present-day conflicts and to consolidate our efforts in order to overcome them. The fact that the Global Majority tends to distrust the infamous Western concept of a rules-based world order was also mentioned during the debate.
On July 17, the Security Council held a quarterly ministerial-level debate on the agenda item titled “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.” During this meeting, participants discussed the situation in the region with all its tension, while placing a special emphasis on the escalating violence in the Arab-Israeli conflict zone for finding ways out of this unprecedented crisis. In addition to this, the UNSC held separate meetings on July 26 and 31 on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the assassination of the Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
On July 19, the UNSC held a debate titled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (#CSTO), the Commonwealth of Independent States (#CIS), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (#SCO).” In his remarks, Deputy FM Sergey Vershinin stressed the importance for the UN to work closer with constructive regional organisations. <...>
In addition to this, Russia’s UNSC Presidency included all the events as part of the mandate-reporting cycle.
👉 The Middle East bloc included meetings on Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.
👉 The African agenda covered discussions of the situation in West Africa, the Sahara and Sahel region, and the DR Congo.
👉 The council also touched upon peacebuilding efforts in Columbia and the start of deploying the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti.
👉 We exchanged views on the activities of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia and the Cyprus settlement.
❗️The Ukraine crisis remained high on the agenda. On July 9, Western countries convened a Security Council meeting in connection with the tragic incident involving a children’s hospital in Kiev. During the debate, the Russian delegation refuted accusations by its opponents and shared evidence demonstrating that the Ukrainian air defence systems were to blame for the incident. On July 25, Russia initiated a UNSC meeting to discuss the unrelenting flow of Western weapons into Ukraine, which delays a settlement in this conflict and leads to more victims.
The Security Council adopted four resolutions in July:
✅ on focusing the CAR arms embargo on illegal armed groups;
✅ extending the mandates for the UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement and the UN Integrated Office in Haiti;
✅ regarding the UN Focal Point on delisting-related matters and re-establishing the Informal Working Group of the Security Council on General UNSC Sanctions Issues.
🇺🇳 Russia went to great lengths to enable the Security Council to be effective and responsive in its work. We encouraged our colleagues within the Council to come up with collective responses when dealing with challenges to peace and security, while seeking guidance from a holistic view of the purposes and principles set forth in the UN Charter and their inter-connected nature. The central events on the agenda of the Russian Presidency attracted a lot of attention within the international community, reaffirming our country’s high authority and the respect it commands as a UN founding member and permanent member of the Security Council.
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#RussiaUN
On July 16, we held a high-level open debate titled “Multilateral cooperation in the interest of a more just, democratic and sustainable world order,” which reaffirmed the need to hold detailed discussions dealing with the underpinnings of the emerging multipolar world order, the objective to reinforce a UN-centred system of international relations, as well as the need to carry out a comprehensive review of the root causes of present-day conflicts and to consolidate our efforts in order to overcome them. The fact that the Global Majority tends to distrust the infamous Western concept of a rules-based world order was also mentioned during the debate.
On July 17, the Security Council held a quarterly ministerial-level debate on the agenda item titled “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.” During this meeting, participants discussed the situation in the region with all its tension, while placing a special emphasis on the escalating violence in the Arab-Israeli conflict zone for finding ways out of this unprecedented crisis. In addition to this, the UNSC held separate meetings on July 26 and 31 on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the assassination of the Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
On July 19, the UNSC held a debate titled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (#CSTO), the Commonwealth of Independent States (#CIS), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (#SCO).” In his remarks, Deputy FM Sergey Vershinin stressed the importance for the UN to work closer with constructive regional organisations. <...>
In addition to this, Russia’s UNSC Presidency included all the events as part of the mandate-reporting cycle.
👉 The Middle East bloc included meetings on Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.
👉 The African agenda covered discussions of the situation in West Africa, the Sahara and Sahel region, and the DR Congo.
👉 The council also touched upon peacebuilding efforts in Columbia and the start of deploying the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti.
👉 We exchanged views on the activities of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia and the Cyprus settlement.
❗️The Ukraine crisis remained high on the agenda. On July 9, Western countries convened a Security Council meeting in connection with the tragic incident involving a children’s hospital in Kiev. During the debate, the Russian delegation refuted accusations by its opponents and shared evidence demonstrating that the Ukrainian air defence systems were to blame for the incident. On July 25, Russia initiated a UNSC meeting to discuss the unrelenting flow of Western weapons into Ukraine, which delays a settlement in this conflict and leads to more victims.
The Security Council adopted four resolutions in July:
✅ on focusing the CAR arms embargo on illegal armed groups;
✅ extending the mandates for the UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement and the UN Integrated Office in Haiti;
✅ regarding the UN Focal Point on delisting-related matters and re-establishing the Informal Working Group of the Security Council on General UNSC Sanctions Issues.
🇺🇳 Russia went to great lengths to enable the Security Council to be effective and responsive in its work. We encouraged our colleagues within the Council to come up with collective responses when dealing with challenges to peace and security, while seeking guidance from a holistic view of the purposes and principles set forth in the UN Charter and their inter-connected nature. The central events on the agenda of the Russian Presidency attracted a lot of attention within the international community, reaffirming our country’s high authority and the respect it commands as a UN founding member and permanent member of the Security Council.
Read in full
#RussiaUN
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🇷🇺🇨🇳 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Qiang in the Kremlin (August 21, 2024).
💬 Vladimir Putin: I am pleased to welcome all of you − especially you, Mr Premier, on your first official visit to Moscow leading a representative Chinese delegation.
🤝 Our countries have developed large-scale joint plans and projects in the economic and humanitarian spheres, which are set to continue for many years. Together with our friend President Xi Jinping, we have established key points of reference during our summits in Moscow and Beijing.
These points were further consolidated by agreements reached during our conversation in July, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (#SCO) Heads of State Council meeting in Astana. Please convey our friendly greetings and best wishes to President Xi, and we look forward to seeing him in October at the #BRICS Summit in Kazan.
We must not forget that October 2 marks the 75th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries. We will duly commemorate this significant milestone.
I have been informed that today you and Prime Minister Mishustin held a detailed discussion on the entire range of trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation issues at the regular meeting of Russian and Chinese heads of government.
📑 A number of bilateral documents aimed at furthering beneficial cooperation have been signed.
We are delighted to have you here. Our trade relations are not only developing but also flourishing, thanks in part to the efforts of our Chinese friends. The attention and commitment shown by both governments towards the development of trade and economic relations have yielded positive results.
China has been a regular participant in the Eastern Economic Forum, and we look forward to seeing the Chinese delegation led by Vice President of the People's Republic of China Han Zheng in Vladivostok in October. We hope that he will take part in the event.
#RussiaChina
💬 Vladimir Putin: I am pleased to welcome all of you − especially you, Mr Premier, on your first official visit to Moscow leading a representative Chinese delegation.
🤝 Our countries have developed large-scale joint plans and projects in the economic and humanitarian spheres, which are set to continue for many years. Together with our friend President Xi Jinping, we have established key points of reference during our summits in Moscow and Beijing.
These points were further consolidated by agreements reached during our conversation in July, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (#SCO) Heads of State Council meeting in Astana. Please convey our friendly greetings and best wishes to President Xi, and we look forward to seeing him in October at the #BRICS Summit in Kazan.
We must not forget that October 2 marks the 75th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries. We will duly commemorate this significant milestone.
I have been informed that today you and Prime Minister Mishustin held a detailed discussion on the entire range of trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation issues at the regular meeting of Russian and Chinese heads of government.
📑 A number of bilateral documents aimed at furthering beneficial cooperation have been signed.
We are delighted to have you here. Our trade relations are not only developing but also flourishing, thanks in part to the efforts of our Chinese friends. The attention and commitment shown by both governments towards the development of trade and economic relations have yielded positive results.
China has been a regular participant in the Eastern Economic Forum, and we look forward to seeing the Chinese delegation led by Vice President of the People's Republic of China Han Zheng in Vladivostok in October. We hope that he will take part in the event.
#RussiaChina
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks and answers to questions at a meeting with students and faculty of MGIMO University (Moscow, September 2, 2024)
💬 I would like to congratulate all of you on #KnowledgeDay.
I would like to highlight that, according to the statistics, MGIMO graduates hold important positions at the Central Office of the Government of Russia, particularly the Presidential Executive Office. Additionally, two-thirds of them join the Foreign Ministry staff every year. This speaks volumes about the “seal of excellence” associated with the diplomas from this great – without any exaggeration, for me at least – institution of higher learning.
We welcome the fact that MGIMO supplies the Foreign Ministry with most of its staff. We are always eager to welcome those whose qualifications meet the high standards of Russian diplomacy. I would like to address the final-year students: together, we will implement the Foreign Policy Concept approved by President Vladimir Putin in March 2023.
I am certain that you keep up with international news and developments on the global stage. The primary trend is the strengthening of new growth and development centres located outside the historical West.
Regional integration associations, such as the #SCO, the #EAEU, #ASEAN, the #CIS, the #LAS, the African Union, and #CELAC, play a significant role at the current stage of development of the multipolar world order. #BRICS, as it strengthens its influence and authority, increasingly acts as an informal global coordinator for these regional integration processes.
The globalisation, which the West pro-actively promoted for years, has been accepted as a method of interstate relations in the economy, technology and the financial sector. However, this globalisation model is now falling apart.
We will advance integration processes within the EAEU, CIS, SCO, ASEAN, and, of course, strengthen strategic partnership with China, India, Brazil, and all our other like-minded countries, working in the context of forming the Eurasian architecture. There are many, it is impossible to list them all. That is why we have a clear and comprehensible image of the future – multipolarity, based on another key principle of the UN Charter – sovereign equality of the state.
<...>
❗️The essence of Western policy towards Russia has always been based on the assumption that our country is too strong and independent and that something must be done to change this, preferably by pulling it down. History repeats itself. Today, these 50 countries have again been rallied under Nazi banners against Russia, considering the essence of Zelensky’s regime or even the chevrons and flags of the so-called Ukrainian army. <...> Today, all those who show independence and a will to defend their national interests within international law while refusing to play by Western rules, are under threat. It is clear, however, that these attempts are largely an agony of the West.
<...>
We do not seek to embed ourselves into various “schemes” that are being established by Western “rules” without our participation and without consideration of our interests. We will continue to champion widely held principles of international law and the UN Charter in their entirety instead of cherry-picking them as the West does.
President Putin has repeatedly stressed that “we are open to contacts with the countries of the ‘collective West’ on the understanding that they pivot away from their openly hostile course towards our country”. Any unfriendly moves will still be met with a tough response. The ball is not in our court, it is up to those who set out to deliberately destroy their relations with Russia and demonise our land and our nation.
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💬 I would like to congratulate all of you on #KnowledgeDay.
I would like to highlight that, according to the statistics, MGIMO graduates hold important positions at the Central Office of the Government of Russia, particularly the Presidential Executive Office. Additionally, two-thirds of them join the Foreign Ministry staff every year. This speaks volumes about the “seal of excellence” associated with the diplomas from this great – without any exaggeration, for me at least – institution of higher learning.
We welcome the fact that MGIMO supplies the Foreign Ministry with most of its staff. We are always eager to welcome those whose qualifications meet the high standards of Russian diplomacy. I would like to address the final-year students: together, we will implement the Foreign Policy Concept approved by President Vladimir Putin in March 2023.
I am certain that you keep up with international news and developments on the global stage. The primary trend is the strengthening of new growth and development centres located outside the historical West.
Regional integration associations, such as the #SCO, the #EAEU, #ASEAN, the #CIS, the #LAS, the African Union, and #CELAC, play a significant role at the current stage of development of the multipolar world order. #BRICS, as it strengthens its influence and authority, increasingly acts as an informal global coordinator for these regional integration processes.
The globalisation, which the West pro-actively promoted for years, has been accepted as a method of interstate relations in the economy, technology and the financial sector. However, this globalisation model is now falling apart.
We will advance integration processes within the EAEU, CIS, SCO, ASEAN, and, of course, strengthen strategic partnership with China, India, Brazil, and all our other like-minded countries, working in the context of forming the Eurasian architecture. There are many, it is impossible to list them all. That is why we have a clear and comprehensible image of the future – multipolarity, based on another key principle of the UN Charter – sovereign equality of the state.
<...>
❗️The essence of Western policy towards Russia has always been based on the assumption that our country is too strong and independent and that something must be done to change this, preferably by pulling it down. History repeats itself. Today, these 50 countries have again been rallied under Nazi banners against Russia, considering the essence of Zelensky’s regime or even the chevrons and flags of the so-called Ukrainian army. <...> Today, all those who show independence and a will to defend their national interests within international law while refusing to play by Western rules, are under threat. It is clear, however, that these attempts are largely an agony of the West.
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We do not seek to embed ourselves into various “schemes” that are being established by Western “rules” without our participation and without consideration of our interests. We will continue to champion widely held principles of international law and the UN Charter in their entirety instead of cherry-picking them as the West does.
President Putin has repeatedly stressed that “we are open to contacts with the countries of the ‘collective West’ on the understanding that they pivot away from their openly hostile course towards our country”. Any unfriendly moves will still be met with a tough response. The ball is not in our court, it is up to those who set out to deliberately destroy their relations with Russia and demonise our land and our nation.
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🤝 On September 10, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Secretary-General of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (#IORA) Salman Al Farisi in Moscow.
During their conversation they considered key issues on the IORA agenda as well as promising areas of interaction in terms of further involvement of Russia, which was granted the Dialogue Partner status in 2021, in the association’s practical activity. The Association Secretariat expressed an interest in Russian approaches to the sectoral areas prioritised for this platform: maritime cooperation, tourism, blue economy, fishing and environmental protection.
The minister made an emphasis on the importance of IORA’s applied potential in the context of deepening multilateral cooperation in a broad transcontinental space, involving such systemically important associations as the #SCO, #EAEU and #ASEAN.
During their conversation they considered key issues on the IORA agenda as well as promising areas of interaction in terms of further involvement of Russia, which was granted the Dialogue Partner status in 2021, in the association’s practical activity. The Association Secretariat expressed an interest in Russian approaches to the sectoral areas prioritised for this platform: maritime cooperation, tourism, blue economy, fishing and environmental protection.
The minister made an emphasis on the importance of IORA’s applied potential in the context of deepening multilateral cooperation in a broad transcontinental space, involving such systemically important associations as the #SCO, #EAEU and #ASEAN.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview to Newsweek magazine (October 7, 2024)
❓Question: As the Ukraine conflict continues, how different is Russia's position than in 2022 and how are the costs of conflict being weighed against the progress made toward strategic objectives?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: Our position is widely known and remains unchanged. Russia is open to a politico-diplomatic settlement that should remove the root causes of the crisis.
It should aim to end the conflict rather than achieve a ceasefire. The West should stop supplying weapons, and Kiev should end the hostilities.
👉 Ukraine should return to its neutral, non-bloc and non-nuclear status, protect the Russian language, and respect the rights and freedoms of its citizens.
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On 14 June, Russian President Vladimir Putin listed prerequisites for the settlement as follows: complete AFU withdrawal from the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson Oblasts; recognition of territorial realities as enshrined in the Russian Constitution; neutral, non-bloc, non-nuclear status for Ukraine; its demilitarization and denazification; securing the rights, freedoms and interests of Russian-speaking citizens; and removal of all sanctions against Russia.
Kiev responded to this statement by an armed incursion into the Kursk Oblast on 6 August. Its patrons – the US and other NATO countries – seek to inflict a «strategic defeat» on Russia. Under the circumstances, we have no choice but to continue our special military operation until the threats posed by Ukraine are removed. <...>
❓Question: How likely do you think it is that a military or diplomatic solution can be achieved, or do you see a greater risk of the conflict spiraling into something even larger with Ukrainian forces receiving more advanced NATO weaponry and entering Russian territory?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: Making guesses is not my job. What I want to say is that we have been trying to extinguish this crisis for more than a decade, yet each time we put to paper agreements that suite everyone, Kiev and its masters would backpedal. <...>
At present, as far as we can see, restoring peace is not part of our adversary's plan. Zelensky has not revoked his decree banning negotiations with Moscow. Washington and its NATO allies provide political, military and financial support to Kiev so that the war would go on. They are discussing authorizing the AFU to use Western long-range missiles to strike deep into Russian territory. "Playing with fire" in this way may lead to dangerous consequences. As stated by President Putin, we will take adequate decisions based on our understanding of the threats posed by the West. It is up to you to make conclusions.
❓Question: What concrete plans does Russia have in line with its strategic partnerships with China and other powers to achieve changes in the current world order and how do you expect these ambitions to play out in areas of intense competition and conflict, including the Middle East?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: What we have in mind is that the world order needs be adjusted to the current realities. Today the world is living through the "multipolar moment". Shifting towards the multi-polar world order is a natural part of power rebalancing, which reflects objective changes in the world economy, finance and geopolitics. The West waited longer than the others, yet it has also started to realize that this process is irreversible.
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Multipolarity manifests itself in the increasing role of regional associations, such as the #EAEU, #SCO, #ASEAN, #AfricanUnion, #CELAC and others. #BRICS has become a model of multilateral diplomacy. The #UN should remain a forum for aligning the interests of all the countries.
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❓Question: As the Ukraine conflict continues, how different is Russia's position than in 2022 and how are the costs of conflict being weighed against the progress made toward strategic objectives?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: Our position is widely known and remains unchanged. Russia is open to a politico-diplomatic settlement that should remove the root causes of the crisis.
It should aim to end the conflict rather than achieve a ceasefire. The West should stop supplying weapons, and Kiev should end the hostilities.
👉 Ukraine should return to its neutral, non-bloc and non-nuclear status, protect the Russian language, and respect the rights and freedoms of its citizens.
<...>
On 14 June, Russian President Vladimir Putin listed prerequisites for the settlement as follows: complete AFU withdrawal from the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson Oblasts; recognition of territorial realities as enshrined in the Russian Constitution; neutral, non-bloc, non-nuclear status for Ukraine; its demilitarization and denazification; securing the rights, freedoms and interests of Russian-speaking citizens; and removal of all sanctions against Russia.
Kiev responded to this statement by an armed incursion into the Kursk Oblast on 6 August. Its patrons – the US and other NATO countries – seek to inflict a «strategic defeat» on Russia. Under the circumstances, we have no choice but to continue our special military operation until the threats posed by Ukraine are removed. <...>
❓Question: How likely do you think it is that a military or diplomatic solution can be achieved, or do you see a greater risk of the conflict spiraling into something even larger with Ukrainian forces receiving more advanced NATO weaponry and entering Russian territory?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: Making guesses is not my job. What I want to say is that we have been trying to extinguish this crisis for more than a decade, yet each time we put to paper agreements that suite everyone, Kiev and its masters would backpedal. <...>
At present, as far as we can see, restoring peace is not part of our adversary's plan. Zelensky has not revoked his decree banning negotiations with Moscow. Washington and its NATO allies provide political, military and financial support to Kiev so that the war would go on. They are discussing authorizing the AFU to use Western long-range missiles to strike deep into Russian territory. "Playing with fire" in this way may lead to dangerous consequences. As stated by President Putin, we will take adequate decisions based on our understanding of the threats posed by the West. It is up to you to make conclusions.
❓Question: What concrete plans does Russia have in line with its strategic partnerships with China and other powers to achieve changes in the current world order and how do you expect these ambitions to play out in areas of intense competition and conflict, including the Middle East?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: What we have in mind is that the world order needs be adjusted to the current realities. Today the world is living through the "multipolar moment". Shifting towards the multi-polar world order is a natural part of power rebalancing, which reflects objective changes in the world economy, finance and geopolitics. The West waited longer than the others, yet it has also started to realize that this process is irreversible.
<...>
Multipolarity manifests itself in the increasing role of regional associations, such as the #EAEU, #SCO, #ASEAN, #AfricanUnion, #CELAC and others. #BRICS has become a model of multilateral diplomacy. The #UN should remain a forum for aligning the interests of all the countries.
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