On November 18, 2020, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Wang Yi congratulated the Russian side on successfully hosting the 20th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS Summit via video link which have achieved fruitful results. Wang Yi said the once-in-a-century changes coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic have had a strong impact on the global political and economic situation and the international order. For this reason, China and Russia attach greater importance to strategic coordination than ever before, which has played a central role in international changes. The two countries, sticking to managing well their own affairs, have successfully completed their domestic political agendas. Jointly upholding multilateralism and international fairness and justice, the two sides have upheld the bottom line of international law and basic norms governing international relations. The two countries have actively participated in international anti-pandemic cooperation, promoted political settlement of various regional hotspot issues, and played a role as a global anchor. The strategic coordination between the two countries has made new achievements.

Wang Yi said the China-Russia relations have withstood the test of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, mutual trust between the two countries has been deepened continuously, and bilateral trade has stopped falling and rebounded. The China-Russia year of scientific and technological innovation has been launched successfully. The non-governmental exchanges between China and Russia have been strengthened continuously and bilateral ties are facing new development opportunities. China is ready to maintain high-level exchanges with Russia, and take next year's celebration of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation as the main task to enrich the China-Russia strategic relationship in the new era and push bilateral comprehensive strategic coordination to a higher level.

Wang Yi stressed that China is ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with Russia to cope with the impact of unilateralism, protectionism and bullying on international relations and order, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the two countries and safeguard international fairness and justice. The two sides should step up communication and coordination, give full play to their respective strengths and help countries in the region deal with the pressing issues such as combating the pandemic, maintaining stability and resuming the economy.

Lavrov said despite the raging pandemic, Russia-China relations have continued to move forward rapidly, which reflects the high level of bilateral ties. Russia congratulates China on its great achievements in fighting the pandemic, and is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with China, ensure the success of the Russia-China year of scientific and technological innovation, and promote the practical cooperation between the two countries in various fields to continuously achieve new results. Russia supports the dovetailing of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Belt and Road Initiative and is ready to coordinate closely with China on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, the UN Security Council, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS mechanism, jointly safeguard the stability of the international and regional situation, support countries in the region in their fight against extremism and support the ASEAN-centered East Asian regional cooperation framework.

The two sides also exchanged in-depth views on international and regional issues of common concern.