Russia’s foreign minister visits Beijing to emphasise close ties with China

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, centre, walks from the plane upon his arrival in Beijing, China (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service/AP)

Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Beijing to display the strength of ties with close diplomatic ally China amid Moscow’s grinding war against Ukraine.

The two continent-sized authoritarian states, increasingly in dispute with democracies, seek to gain influence in Africa, the Middle East and South America.