SpaceWar.com reports: “China’s top diplomat said Thursday Beijing would strengthen ties with Russia in areas of strategic communication and coordination, as the allies’ contacts grow closer after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine last year.

Beijing says it is a neutral party in the war but its refusal to condemn the invasion has led many of Kyiv’s allies to accuse it of favouring Russia after emerging as Moscow’s most important ally in its current bout of international isolation.

Wang Yi met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Jakarta, where both will take part in an 18-nation East Asia Summit ministerial meeting Friday.

‘The two sides should… strengthen strategic communication and coordination,’ Wang was quoted as saying by the Chinese foreign ministry in a statement.

‘China and Russia firmly support each other in safeguarding legitimate interests, adhere to the path of harmonious coexistence and win-win development.’…”