2023-06-25 16:53:38
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BEIJING – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Russia Andrei Rudenko flew to Beijing to have talks with China on “international” issues. The visit comes amidst a major challenge posed by Russian mercenaries to President Vladimir Putin’s rule.
As reported by Reuters, Rudenko exchanged views with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in a meeting in the Chinese capital, Beijing, on Sunday (25/6/2023).
“This meeting discussed China-Russia relations, as well as international and regional issues of mutual concern,” China’s foreign ministry said in a one-line statement on its website.
It is not clear when Rudenko arrived in Beijing, or whether his visit to China, Russia’s main ally, was in response to the mutiny of Wagner’s heavily armed mercenaries.
China has not publicly commented on the uprising that Putin says threatens Russia’s very existence. Western leaders, including US President Joe Biden, said they were monitoring the situation closely.
“China will stand by Russia while insisting on non-interference in its internal affairs,” top Chinese military expert and TV commentator Song Zhongping told Reuters.
Earlier, mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said the “march” on Moscow was meant to remove corrupt and incompetent commanders whom he blamed for undermining the war in Ukraine.
Prigozhin’s mercenary group Wagner has since halted its advance in a move Prigozhin believes will avoid bloodshed.
The mutiny was followed by Chinese media refraining from commenting ahead of official statements, while many Chinese citizens have spoken out in support of Putin on social media.
“You can do it, Russia!” many Chinese wrote in social media posts. The Chinese Embassy in Russia told media outlet China Southern Metropolis Daily on Saturday that the area around Moscow was calm.
(esn)
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