The Chinese and Russian top diplomats discussed Monday in Moscow issues including Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, the two countries said, with their meeting believed to have laid the groundwork for President Vladimir Putin's expected visit to Beijing next month.

China's Wang Yi and Russia's Sergei Lavrov agreed it would be futile to attempt to end the now 19-month-long war in Ukraine without taking into account "Russia's interests," the Russian foreign ministry said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Wang expressed Beijing's willingness to "play a constructive role" in a political settlement of the crisis, while Lavrov said Moscow will "continue to be open to negotiation and dialogue."

They also noted "the closeness of the positions" of the two countries regarding U.S. activities in the international arena, including those of "an anti-Russian and anti-Chinese nature," the Russian ministry said.

Wang said Beijing-Moscow cooperation is not aimed at a third party and the two countries will promote the development of global governance "in a fairer and reasonable direction" in the face of "the rise of unilateral acts, hegemonism and bloc confrontation," the Chinese ministry said, in reference to the U.S.-led international order.

As permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, China and Russia bear "important responsibilities for maintaining global strategic stability," Wang added.

Putin is expected to attend an international conference to mark the 10th anniversary of China's signature Belt and Road global infrastructure initiative to be held in Beijing in October.

Larov briefed Wang on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's recent visit to Russia, while the Chinese top diplomat detailed to his counterpart the substance of talks he had with U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan in Malta over the weekend, the Russian ministry said.

The Chinese ministry said Monday that Wang will make a four-day visit to Moscow at the invitation of Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev and hold bilateral strategic security discussions.

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