Xi urges closer, stronger China-Russia strategic coordination to defend interests, uphold Global South unity

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged closer and stronger strategic coordination between China and Russia to firmly defend their legitimate interests and safeguard the unity of Global South countries when meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Beijing.

Xi asked Lavrov to convey his sincere greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Noting this year marks the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and the 25th anniversary of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, Xi said that the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination maintains high-level growth with fruitful cooperation outcomes in various fields.

In a volatile and turbulent world, the stability and certainty of China-Russia ties are particularly precious, and the strong vitality and exemplary significance of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation are more prominent, said Xi.

He urged both sides to fully implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, enhance strategic communication, strengthen diplomatic coordination, and elevate the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination to a higher level in a steadier, more sustained manner.

Xi stressed that amid the profound changes unseen in a century, China and Russia should implement closer and stronger strategic coordination to firmly defend their legitimate interests, safeguard the unity of Global South countries, and shoulder their responsibilities as major countries and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

Xi said the two sides should maintain strategic resolve, trust each other, support each other, develop together, and run their respective affairs well, while fully leveraging the advantages of proximity and complementarity, deepening all-round cooperation, and improving respective development resilience.

Xi also called for more efforts from both sides to strengthen multilateral coordination, firmly safeguard and practice multilateralism, jointly reinvigorate the UN's authority and vitality, maintain close coordination and cooperation within frameworks including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS, and make the international order more just and equitable.

Lavrov conveyed President Putin's sincere greetings and best wishes to President Xi, saying that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, Russia-China relations have demonstrated high resilience in a complex external environment, with good momentum in trade and investment cooperation, increasingly tight people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and close coordination on multilateral platforms including the United Nations, the SCO, BRICS, and APEC.

Facing the severe and complex international situation, Russia stands ready to work with China to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen practical cooperation, promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, safeguard international fairness and justice, promote greater development of Russia-China relations, and make more contributions to world peace and stability, Lavrov said.

Xi urges closer, stronger China-Russia strategic coordination to defend interests, uphold Global South unity

Xi urges closer, stronger China-Russia strategic coordination to defend interests, uphold Global South unity

Xi urges closer, stronger China-Russia strategic coordination to defend interests, uphold Global South unity

Xi urges closer, stronger China-Russia strategic coordination to defend interests, uphold Global South unity

The Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said that the Strait of Hormuz has been blocked since Saturday evening and will not reopen until the United States lifts its naval blockade on the waterway.

In a statement carried by its official news outlet Sepah News, the IGRC said that the move came after the United States violated its commitments under the two-week ceasefire, which took effect on April 8, and failed to end its naval blockade against Iranian vessels and ports.

The IRGC Navy called on all vessels and their owners to follow official updates via its channel and VHF Channel 16, the international maritime distress, safety, and calling frequency. The statements by U.S. President Donald Trump hold no credibility in the strait and the Gulf, it added.

The IRGC warned that no vessel should move from its anchorage in the Gulf or the Gulf of Oman, and any approach to the strait would be deemed "cooperation with the enemy" and targeted accordingly.

Tehran's political leadership echoed the IRGC's firm position. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf asserted that the Strait of Hormuz is under Iran's control, revealing that during previous negotiations, Iran had firmly countered U.S. attempts to carry out minesweeping operations, which Tehran viewed as a ceasefire violation.

He said the situation had come close to conflict, but the U.S. had eventually backed off.

Calling the U.S. maritime blockade "reckless and ignorant," Ghalibaf warned that passage through the strait would certainly be restricted if Washington does not lift the blockade.

Underpinning these public announcements, Iran's Supreme National Security Council on Saturday affirmed the country's resolve to exercise control and supervision over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz until the war is definitively ended and lasting peace is achieved in the region.

For its part, the United States pressed ahead with its own military measures.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on Saturday that the U.S. military is imposing a maritime blockade on ships entering and exiting Iranian ports and nearby coastal areas. Since the blockade began on April 13, 23 ships have complied with U.S. directions to turn around.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military is preparing in the coming days to board Iran-linked oil tankers and seize commercial ships in international waters, The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing U.S. officials.

The move will enable the U.S. to take control of Iran-linked vessels around the world, including ships carrying Iranian oil that are already sailing outside the Persian Gulf and those carrying arms that could support Tehran, the report said.

Iran's IRGC says Strait of Hormuz blocked, demands end to US naval blockade