Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China and Russia should bolster mutual support within multilateral frameworks, safeguard their development and security interests, unite the countries of the Global South, and push the international order toward a more just and equitable direction.

Xi made the remarks during his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing, calling on both sides to support each other in steering the development direction of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), injecting new momentum into the SCO, and making the strategic platform more substantive and stronger.

Xi asked Lavrov to convey his cordial greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Calling on both sides to follow through on the important understandings reached with Putin, Xi said China and Russia should advance their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination.

The SCO, jointly established by countries including China and Russia as a comprehensive regional cooperation mechanism, plays a vital role in safeguarding peace, stability, and development across Eurasia, Xi noted.

Lavrov conveyed President Putin’s sincere greetings to President Xi, adding that under the strategic leadership of the two heads of state, Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination has developed in depth.

Russia places great importance on its relationship with China and looks forward to maintaining high-level exchanges with China in this significant year that marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, said Lavrov.

He added that Russia will work with China to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, maintain communication and coordination in international and regional affairs, and promote regional and global peace and stability.

Russia supports China's work as the rotating chair of the SCO to jointly ensure the success of the SCO summit in Tianjin, said Lavrov.

Wang Yi participated in a meeting.