BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday, pressing for closer and stronger strategic coordination between Beijing and Moscow.

Xi said "the stability and certainty of China-Russia relations were particularly 'precious' in an international landscape marked by change and chaos." He also urged Russia and China to firmly defend their legitimate interests and safeguard the unity of Global South countries, and characterized the global situation as involving a contest between justice and force, calling for deeper cooperation between the two nations.

Xi said China would play a "constructive role" in promoting peace talks in the Middle East. Lavrov had met with his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on Tuesday to discuss the conflict in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and other geopolitical issues. The Wednesday meeting with Xi followed those earlier discussions.

At a news conference after his session with Xi, Lavrov said Russia could compensate for China's energy shortages as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains restricted. Iran has de facto shut down the strait to most maritime traffic since shortly after the United States and Israel launched military operations on Feb. 28.

The visit took place against the backdrop of expanding ties between Beijing and Moscow. In 2022, Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a "no limits" strategic partnership. Shortly after that agreement was signed, Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine, a war that remains ongoing.