China and Russia double down on bilateral relations

China and Russia have been doubling down on their "no limits partnership" in recent weeks, with high-level officials from both sides holding meetings in Beijing and Moscow to deepen ties in a number of areas. On Friday, China's special envoy for Eurasian affairs Li Hui arrived in Moscow, where he met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

To begin, Lavrov blamed Ukraine and Western countries for what he called "serious obstacles" preventing peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv, while reaffirming Russia's commitment to "a political-diplomatic resolution of the conflict." Additionally, Lavrov praised Beijing for its "balanced" position on the ongoing war in Ukraine.