Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 28 July, in Tashkent, on the sidelines of the SCO Ministerial Council meeting, a meeting was held between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation S.V. Lavrov and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PRC Wang Yi.

The ministers gave a positive assessment of the current state of Russian-Chinese relations, which continue to develop dynamically in the face of a difficult geopolitical situation. The sides paid special attention to the implementation of the agreements reached by the leaders of the two countries. The ministers discussed some issues of bilateral practical cooperation.

The heads of the foreign ministries of Russia and China exchanged views on key aspects of the activities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as the prospects for its further development, including issues of modernizing the association and increasing its authority in the international arena. The sides emphasized the leading role of the SCO in building a regional security architecture, noted the significant constructive contribution of the Organization to the process of maintaining peace and stability, ensuring economic development in Eurasia. The ministers discussed in detail the preparations for the upcoming meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO Member States.

A number of topical issues on the regional and international agenda were considered, including integration processes in the Central Asian region and the situation in Afghanistan. The parties exchanged assessments of the current state of affairs in Ukraine and around it.

The ministers reaffirmed their readiness to increase interaction and coordination within the framework of multilateral formats involving the two countries.

The conversation was held in a traditionally confidential and constructive manner.