Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated on Wednesday during a visit to Beijing that Russia is ready to "compensate" for the energy resource shortage facing China and other countries due to the war in the Middle East, Russian news agencies reported. Lavrov said at a press conference in Beijing: "Russia, without any doubt, can compensate for the resource deficit for China and other countries interested in working with us." He also confirmed that President Vladimir Putin will visit China in the first half of 2026. Xi Jinping received Lavrov on Wednesday, who began a two-day visit to China on Tuesday. The two countries have close diplomatic and economic ties, are partners with Iran, and are rivals to the United States.
