Russia stands alongside China on Asian issues, including the criticism of the U.S. drive to extend its influence and ¡°deliberate attempts¡± to inflame the situation around Taiwan, its foreign minister said in an interview published on Thursday.

Sergei Lavrov, in an essay published in the government newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta, also praised Beijing¡¯s approach to the war in Ukraine and said both countries wanted to eliminate the problems that Moscow says lie behind the conflict.

Writing to mark the Russia¡¯s 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations with China, Lavrov said Moscow and Beijing held close positions ¡°in assessing the risks associated with the advance of the West in the Asia-Pacific region.¡±