Russian, U.S. steps to normalise ties bring optimism, China's Foreign Minister says

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi discusses peace efforts and strategic partnerships with Russia amid global tensions and conflicts.

Russia and the United States have taken the first step toward normalizing relations, which inspire optimism, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Russia's RIA state news agency in remarks published on Tuesday (April 1, 2025).

"Russia and the United States have taken the first step toward normalizing relations, which is good for stabilizing the balance of power between major powers and inspires optimism in a disappointing international situation," RIA cited Mr. Wang as saying.

Mr. Wang is on a three-day visit to Moscow for strategic cooperation talks, surrounded by uncertainty around the partial ceasefire in Ukraine and U.S. President Donald Trump striking a critical tone against the Russian and Ukrainian leaders.

China calls for the peace talks to continue, Mr. Wang told RIA in a wide-ranging interview.

"The step towards peace, although not that big, is constructive - it's worth building on it," Mr. Wang said. "With peace, it is no pain no gain. You need to work hard to achieve it."

China and Russia declared a "no limits" strategic partnership days before Russian President Vladimir Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has met Mr. Putin over 40 times in the past decade and the two leaders agreed in May 2024 to deepen their partnership and cooperate on issues such as Taiwan, Ukraine and mutual rival the United States.