China spoke out on Wednesday against excluding Russia from the next G20 summit, envisaged by Washington after the invasion of Ukraine.
“Russia is an important member country (of the G20), no member has the right to expel another country,” Chinese diplomatic spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters.
Close to the Kremlin, with which it shares a hostility displayed towards the United States, the Chinese regime has refrained from condemning the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Westerners are preparing new sanctions against Russia, while they are to meet Thursday in Brussels within the framework of NATO, the G7 and the European Union, a month to the day after the invasion of Ukraine.
Jake Sullivan, national security adviser to Joe Biden, spoke on Tuesday of a possible exclusion of President Vladimir Putin from the G20, whose next summit is scheduled in Indonesia at the end of the year.
“On the issue of the G20, I will simply say this: we believe that Russia cannot act as if nothing has happened in international institutions and in the international community,” Sullivan said.
“But on specific institutions and specific decisions, we would like to consult our allies, consult our partners in these institutions before deciding,” added Mr. Sullivan, while US President Joe Biden is due to participate in meetings in Brussels on Thursday.