Top Chinese diplomat's Russia visit shows Beijing leans towards Moscow – Lithuanian formin

VILNIUS – Top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi's visit to Russia shows that Beijing is leaning towards Moscow, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis says.

"Mr Wang Yi visiting Moscow clearly shows that they are leaning towards Moscow. The message has to be very clear, if they would decide to support Russia in its war against Ukraine. The West has shown that we can be united when it comes to restrictive measures limiting the chance to help Russia," Lithuania's top diplomat told the British TV channel Sky News.

On Tuesday, China's highest ranked diplomat said during his visit to Moscow that relations between Moscow and Beijing were "rock solid and will withstand any test in a changing international situation".

Russia and China have "excellent opportunity to continue close strategic cooperation and contacts to protect our shared strategic interests", Wang Yi said.

"I think that we need to take what is being said about their thoughts quite seriously even though they are saying they are neutral," Landsbergis said.

Having declared an "unlimited" friendship with Russia, China refuses to criticize Moscow's actions, accuses the US and NATO of provoking the Kremlin and condemns the sanctions imposed on Russia. Russia, for its part, strongly supports China's position on Taiwan.

During his visit to the UK, Landsbergis is also scheduled to meet with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to discuss further response to Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, Russia's accountability for international crimes, ways to strengthen NATO's eastern flank, and preparations for the forthcoming NATO summit in Vilnius.