Moscow and Beijing have similar approaches to key int'l, regional problems - Russian Security Council secretary

BEIJING. Feb 28 (Interfax) - Russia and China pursue similar approaches to key international and regional problems, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, who is paying a working visit to China, said at a meeting with Director of the Foreign Affairs Commission Office of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

"I'd like to emphasize that I have arrived in hospitable China at the direction of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin following his phone conversation with President of China Xi Jinping on February 24. The fact that our meeting was arranged on such short notice confirms the special nature of our bilateral dialogue," Shoigu said in his opening remarks.

Russia and China have similar approaches to key international and regional issues and support each other within the United Nations and its Security Council, the G20, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and others, he said.

"We are grateful to the People's Republic of China for its support during Russia's BRICS presidency last year. We, on our part, will continue to provide assistance to our Chinese partners in their work," Shoigu said.

The Russian Security Council's press service said earlier that Shoigu has arrived in Beijing for meetings with President Xi and Foreign Minister Wang to discuss bilateral security and a number of international and regional problems.