China opposes US, western allies planning to expel Russia from G20

China has said no member of the G20 has the right to “expel another country” amid reports the US and its Western allies are assessing whether Russia should remain in the group of leading economies following its invasion of Ukraine.

“Russia is an important member [of the G20],” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters Wednesday, adding that Russia belonged to the world’s major economies “brought together” by the G20.

Wang also said that the G20 should “practice true multilateralism” and “strengthen solidarity and cooperation.”

Russia’s Ambassador to Indonesia Lyudmila Vorobieva said President Vladimir Putin “wants to go” to the G20 leaders’ summit in Bali at the end of this year.

Vorobieva said Putin’s attendance would “depend on many, many things, including the Covid situation, that is getting better.”

Speaking to reporters in Jakarta, Vorobieva said she hoped “that the Indonesian government will not give in to the horrible pressure that’s being applied not only to Indonesia, but so many other countries in the world by the West.”

Indonesia currently holds the rotating chair of the G20.

“G20 is not only a summit. G20 is a process. There are a lot of meetings that were held by Indonesia both online and offline and Russia is actively participating in these meetings,” Vorobieva added.