On July 24, 2023 local time, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met with Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council Nikolai Patrushev in Johannesburg.

Wang Yi said that faced with the international landscape fraught with changes and turbulence, China-Russia relations have withstood the test of the changing international situation under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, and become more fully-fledged and resilient, full of vitality and vibrancy. China is ready to further strengthen strategic communication with Russia, enhance strategic mutual trust, deepen the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union, enhance coordination and cooperation at bilateral, regional and international levels, jointly oppose hegemony and power politics, constantly substantiate the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era, and inject more new impetus into a multi-polar world and greater democracy in international relations.

Wang Yi said that BRICS countries are all important emerging markets and major developing countries, and are constructive forces representing the direction of the world's development. In recent years, BRICS cooperation has seen many highlights, including fruitful and practical outcomes and progress in institution building. China is ready to work closely with Russia and all other BRICS countries to push for more substantial, stronger and greater BRICS cooperation, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

Nikolai Patrushev said that under the current circumstance, Russia and China have actively acted upon multilateralism, jointly opposed unilateralism, rejected the hegemonic acts of defending the interests of several countries in the name of multilateral mechanisms, opposed the Cold War mentality of escalating regional and international tensions, and made important contribution to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Russia, China and other developing countries and defending regional and world peace and stability. Russia is ready to work with China to strengthen strategic communication, expand practical cooperation, and deepen coordination and cooperation within such frameworks as BRICS countries and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, so as to inject more stability into a volatile and unstable world.

The two sides also had an exchange of views on international and regional issues of mutual interest and concern.