国内英语新闻:Chinese FM meets Russian counterpart

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov at the UN headquarters in New York City on the sidelines of the Security Council open debate initiated by China on maintaining international peace and security.

While reviewing leaders of China and Russia met five times last year and noting this year they will meet with each other on a plethora of important bilateral and multilateral occasions, Wang said frequent contacts of the two countries' leaders have ensured that China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership keeps developing at a high level.

Wang suggested the two sides should work with the international community and do a good job of organizing a series of activities assigned to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the UN and the victory of the world anti-Fascist war, to safeguard the fruits of victory of the WWII and international justice and fairness, as well as to fulfill their responsibilities as permanent members of the Security Council in maintaining international peace and security.

Lavrov said Russia fully supports China's initiative to convene the open debate and considers it as a timely and necessary move to launch a series of activities to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory of WWII for this year. He believed it is also helpful for launching several positive signals that heroes of WWII cannot be forgotten, historical justice cannot be distorted, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be well maintained.

Russia is willing to work with China to maintain high-level exchanges, continue to support each other, and strengthen communication and coordination on significant international and regional hotspot issues, said Lavrov.