On January 9, 2023, Foreign Minister Qin Gang had a phone call at request with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Qin Gang said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has maintained high-level development, exchanges and cooperation in various fields have been further advanced, and the public support for friendship has been constantly consolidated. China-Russia relations are based on non-alliance, non-confrontation and non-targeting of any third party. China is ready to join hands with Russia to follow through on important common understandings reached between the two heads of state and continue to push forward China-Russia relations. Qin Gang expressed readiness to keep close contact with Lavrov.

Lavrov congratulated Qin Gang on his assuming office as China's Foreign Minister, and said that he expects to establish a sound working relationship, guide the diplomatic departments of the two countries to continue their close cooperation, jointly implement important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, and work for new outcomes in Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Qin Gang emphasized that China will continue to view and deal with the Ukraine issue under the fundamental guidance of the four points about what must be done and four things the international community must do together put forward by President Xi Jinping.