China, Russia Discuss Ukraine Crisis, Beijing Reaffirms Strong Ties

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the BRICS 2024 summit in Kazan, Russia October 23, 2024. (Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via Reuters)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the BRICS 2024 summit in Kazan, Russia October 23, 2024. (Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via Reuters)
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China, Russia Discuss Ukraine Crisis, Beijing Reaffirms Strong Ties

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the BRICS 2024 summit in Kazan, Russia October 23, 2024. (Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via Reuters)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the BRICS 2024 summit in Kazan, Russia October 23, 2024. (Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via Reuters)

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko discussed the Ukraine crisis in talks on Wednesday and Wang reaffirmed Beijing's strong ties with Moscow, the Chinese foreign ministry said.

Both exchanged views on the crisis but the ministry statement did not disclose details of the discussion.

Wang reiterated China and Russia's strong relations, that were not affected by "changes in the international situation".

"Both sides should make joint efforts to coordinate cooperation in various fields and exchanges at all levels," he said, without elaboration.

Russia's RIA agency first reported that Rudenko was in Beijing for the meeting.

The visit takes place as Russia's war in Ukraine appeared to take a dangerous new turn, with NATO and South Korea expressing alarm that North Korean troops could soon be joining Moscow's side.

Rudenko has been involved in developing Russian ties with North Korea after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion on Ukraine in February 2022. He was also a member of the Russian delegations at peace negotiations with Ukraine early in the war.

Two months before President Vladimir Putin sent his troops to Ukraine, Rudenko said that countries of the post-Soviet space will always be among Russia's geopolitical priorities.

"Wherever these countries go, no matter how they develop, they will always be a priority, among our geopolitical priorities, regardless of the geopolitical context," RIA cited Rudenko as saying in December 2021.

"This is part of our former common Soviet past."



Russia, China ‘Emerging Axis’ Troubling, Says Australia Intelligence Chief

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a flower-laying ceremony at the Monument to Minin and Pozharsky, commemorating Russian national heroes Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, on National Unity Day in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, 04 November 2024. Russia's National Unity Day (or Day of People's Unity) is celebrated this year from 04 to 07 November. (EPA/ Mikhail Tereshchenko/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool)
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a flower-laying ceremony at the Monument to Minin and Pozharsky, commemorating Russian national heroes Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, on National Unity Day in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, 04 November 2024. Russia's National Unity Day (or Day of People's Unity) is celebrated this year from 04 to 07 November. (EPA/ Mikhail Tereshchenko/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool)
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Russia, China ‘Emerging Axis’ Troubling, Says Australia Intelligence Chief

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a flower-laying ceremony at the Monument to Minin and Pozharsky, commemorating Russian national heroes Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, on National Unity Day in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, 04 November 2024. Russia's National Unity Day (or Day of People's Unity) is celebrated this year from 04 to 07 November. (EPA/ Mikhail Tereshchenko/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool)
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a flower-laying ceremony at the Monument to Minin and Pozharsky, commemorating Russian national heroes Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, on National Unity Day in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, 04 November 2024. Russia's National Unity Day (or Day of People's Unity) is celebrated this year from 04 to 07 November. (EPA/ Mikhail Tereshchenko/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool)

The head of Australia's national intelligence office said an "emerging axis" of countries providing support to Russia, including China, Iran and North Korea, was "a profoundly troubling strategic development" that western countries were struggling to catch up with.

Director-General of the Office of National Intelligence, Andrew Shearer, said on Wednesday that the strategic impact of an emerging axis, that had China and Russia at its core, had been underestimated.

"The massive provision by China of dual use assistance to Putin, and economic support and diplomatic support is keeping Putin's army in the field in Ukraine, killing innocent Ukrainians just as surely as if they were providing artillery ammunition and missiles," Shearer said at the Raisina Downunder conference in Canberra.

He also listed the provision of Iranian drones, and North Korean missiles and combat troops to Russia. South Korea and the US say around 10,000 North Korean troops have arrived in Russia to support its war against Ukraine.

"This is a profoundly troubling strategic development and we are all grappling to catch up with it and put in place effective measures, but I think this is one of the strategic challenges of our time," Shearer said.

Australia is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence partnership with the US, Britain, Canada and New Zealand. Shearer is the top advisor to Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on intelligence matters.