China and Russia have reached a consensus and are ready to move their strategic partnership forward, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who wrapped up his two-day visit to Russia on Friday.
Wang made the remarks during a press conference following a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Friday.
He also met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday in Moscow.
Wang's visit comes ahead of a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping in July.
China advocates peaceful solution to Korean Peninsula nuclear issue
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula must de-escalate, according to the Chinese and Russian foreign ministers, who met in Moscow. Both sides warned that the U.S.-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system in South Korea would make matters worse, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea must be engaged in a dialogue.
Wang said the use of military force will create a bigger problem and serious after-effects, adding that China and Russia have reached a high degree of consensus that military means should not be an option for any country.
"The use of military force is not appropriate, it only leads to the deterioration of the situation and negative consequences. In the past, present or the future, this must not be a choice for any nation. China and Russia have reached a consensus on this," he said.
China has proposed a "dual-track" approach to promote the denuclearization of the peninsula. China has called for the suspension of Pyongyang's missile and nuclear tests in exchange for the suspension of U.S.-South Korean military drills, said Wang, adding that Beijing's proposals are in line with Russia's.
Russia is an 'important strategic partner' for Belt and Road
On the Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing considers Moscow an important strategic partner which will play a "unique" and "indispensable" role in construction of the visionary blueprint, Wang said at the press conference.
The minister said that China is willing to work with Russia for the peace and development of the region, as well as the Eurasian continent.
He also said that China's Ministry of Commerce, together with Russia's Ministry of Economic Development, will conduct research on the construction of a Eurasian Economic Partnership.
Over the past few years, Beijing and Moscow have kept close contact on global issues. In mid-May, Putin attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing.
SCO faces new 'opportunities and challenges'
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Charter and the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation by SCO members.
Wang pointed out that the organization is facing new opportunities and challenges in its development.
After India and Pakistan complete the process of joining the SCO during an upcoming summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana, the SCO will become the world's most populous and largest regional cooperative organization, which will bring unprecedented development capacity and cooperation potential, Wang added.
In the face of the rise of protectionism and regional security, Wang said, the SCO should adhere to and support trade liberalization, and facilitate and promote the process of economic integration.
