Lavrov meets Chinese counterpart in Manila

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Manila, Philippines on 6 August 2017 [Image: Russian Foreign Ministry]Chinese and Russian Foreign Ministers Wang Yi and Sergey Lavrov met in Manila, the capital of Philippines on Sunday to dicuss bilateral ties and international affairs, including the Korean crisis.
The two diplomats were attending a ASEAN Summit on security.
China and Russia are opposed to the deployment of US anti-missile systems in South Korea.
On Monday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, agreed to apply maximum pressure and sanctions on North Korea in a telephone call, according to South Korean presidential office spokesman Park Su-hyun.
The U.N. Security Council unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Saturday.
Despite repeated Chinese and Russian protests that such advanced weaponry would trigger an arms race in the Asia-Pacific region, the US began to deploy its anti-missile systems in South Korea this year.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, Beijing said Wang and Lavrov pledged mutual support irrespective of “the changing situation in the world”.
“The two sides have pledged to continue considering each other as high-priority international partners regardless of the developments of the situation in the world, as well as to deepen strategic cooperation, to strengthen mutual trust, support and comprehensive cooperation,” Wang said, as quoted by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Russia and China share common stances on the crises in Syria, Libya and North Korea.
Both allies have permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council.
On Sunday, the Chinese Foreign Minister said Beijing will consult with Moscow in preparation of the annual meeting of the heads of state of the BRICS in September.
The BRICS countries, during the 9th Summit in China this year, will want to push for a common position on issues from climate change, to the migration crisis to Syria, North Korea, as well as WTO discussions and the protectionist policies of US President Donald Trump.
Trump has made reducing US trade deficits a key focus of his economic agenda to “protect” American jobs. He has taken particular aim at renegotiating trade relationships with countries China and India.
TBP and Agencies 

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