In the evening of December 30, 2013, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held telephone talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The Foreign Ministers exchanged their New-Year greetings. They expressed that the two countries will enhance communication, exchange, cooperation in the new year and bring China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination to a new high.

Wang Yi expressed his condolences over the serial terrorist attacks in Volgograd and strongly condemned the acts of terrorism. He said that China supports Russia for the measures taken to safeguard national security and stability. Lavrov expressed gratitude and stressed that Russia wishes to strengthen anti-terrorism cooperation with China.

They also exchanged views on Jpanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to the Yasukuni Shrine where Class-A war criminals of World War II are honoured. Wang Yi pointed out that Abe's move should be given rise to high vigilance of all peace-loving nations and people in the world. China and Russia, as victors of the anti-fascist war in the world and as permanent members of the UN Security Council, must join the hands to maintain international justice and post-war international order. It is the shared international responsibilities and obligations of the two countries.

Lavrov stressed that, Russia holds completely identical position with China on the issue of Yasukuni Shrine. Russia opposes Abe's visit to the Shrine, and deems it provocative to its Asian neighbors. Abe's visit shows that Japan is unwilling to be honest with its past and is trying to whitewash its militaristic history of aggression and colonial rule. The Russian side is dissatisfied with Japan's attitude toward the outcomes of World War II and urged Japan to correct its erroneous historical view and to avert further moves that hurts the feelings of the people of the victim countries and will intensify regional tension. Russia is willing to work with China to safeguard regional security and stability.