Xi meets Russian FM as leaders flock to China over Middle East war

China’s President Xi Jinping met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, alongside visits by leaders from Spain, the UAE and Vietnam, as the Middle East war drives diplomatic activity in Beijing. Lavrov said Russia could “compensate” for China’s energy shortages amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, while Xi positioned China as a mediator and urged cooperation. The war and energy concerns have added urgency to talks, said NTU PPGA’s Assoc Prof Dylan Loh. “China has got leverage and influence over Iran, and there are some hopes and expectations that China can use this influence in a more direct way,” he said.

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-Similar reports in Yahoo News, Pacific Daily News, The Jarkata Post (off AFP), 15 Apr