The Chinese ambassador to Russia, Zhang Hanhui, indicated that Moscow holds comprehensive information about the interactions between Beijing and Washington. He stated that the Russian side has full records of talks between China and the United States and that this information had been shared in some form with the Russian leadership. He emphasized that the United States had not chosen to relay messages to Russia via channels connected to China.
When asked about whether Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed a message through diplomatic channels following meetings with the US President’s National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, during his visit to Moscow, Zhang Hanhui replied that such a portrayal was inaccurate. He underscored that no such channeling occurred, describing the situation as nothing close to that claim.
On September 20, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, announced that Moscow and Beijing stand together in advocating a multipolar world order. He shared this stance during a discussion with Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign minister, highlighting a shared position on global governance and the shaping of international relations.
Later that same afternoon, Wang Yi revealed that a set of agreements had been reached with Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russia’s Security Council, and Sergei Lavrov, the head of Russia’s Foreign Ministry. The announcements pointed to concrete diplomatic progress and mutual commitments on several agreed-upon topics.
Putin, in conversations with the Chinese diplomat, extended an invitation from Xi Jinping to visit China in October 2023, signaling ongoing high-level engagement and a willingness to deepen strategic ties. The dialogue illustrated a continuing pattern of cooperation and mutual interest between the two nations as they pursue shared objectives on the global stage.
During the discussions, Putin also made light of internal political rhetoric, joking about the notion of a supreme government in Russia in a moment that reflected the informal, candid tone sometimes seen in high-level talks. The exchange underscored the complexity and occasionally the humor that can accompany serious diplomacy, even amid broad strategic objectives and public statements about a united front on major international questions.