According to the leader of the Russian Federation, today Russia and China "understand how powerful the impetus for rapid all-round development arises from the combination of complementary advantages." Putin also said that trade and economic relations between Russia and China are developing at a rapid pace, demonstrating stable immunity to external challenges and crisis phenomena. In the last five years they have managed to double their bilateral trade turnover. At the same time, more than 90%. of payments between companies of the two countries are made in national currencies. China has been Russia's main trading partner for 13 years, and in 2023, Russia rose to 4th place in the ranking of China's trading counterparts. Putin noted that the two countries systematically and consistently develop strategic cooperation in the energy sector, where work is being done on new large-scale projects. Putin also positively assessed the interaction between Russia and China on the international scene. On the Ukraine war, Putin noted that Russia positively evaluates China's approaches to resolving the crisis. “Beijing is well aware of its root causes and global geopolitical significance, which is reflected in the 12-point plan “China's Position on the Political Resolution of the Ukrainian Crisis”, released in February 2023. Under the strategic guidance of the two countries' leaders, China-Russia relations are at the highest level in history, creating an example of a new kind of relations between the powers.
Russia and China promote mutual development and prosperity by increasing equitable and mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic and humanitarian spheres and strengthening foreign policy coordination in the interests of building a just multipolar world order. All this predetermines the successful future of the global and strategic partnership between the two countries in the new era. Russian President Vladimir Putin said this on the eve of his state visit to China in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.
"I am confident that we will implement all the strategic plans we have set. We are willing to work together with our partners worldwide, including China, our good neighbour and trusted friend," Putin said.
On the eve of his two-day state visit to China, which starts on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia and China are promoting the prosperity of both nations through expanded equal and mutually beneficial cooperation in economic and cultural fields.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying announced on the 14th: At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin will visit China May 16-17 for a state visit. This is the Russian leader's first foreign trip since his re-election for a new term, as well as his return visit during Xi Jinping's trip to Russia last spring. Putin's upcoming visit to China is of great importance and also attracts worldwide attention.Under the strategic guidance of the two countries' leaders, China-Russia relations are at the highest level in history, creating an example of a new kind of relations between the powers.
"From the signing of a joint declaration on a new phase of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation in 2014 to a joint declaration on the development of a comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation entering a new era in 2019, as well as the unanimous decision to extend the Treaty of Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation in 2021, any qualitative improvement in Sino-Russian relations is not complete without the focused leadership and strategic direction of the leaders of the two states. During Putin's upcoming visit to China, the leaders of the two countries will exchange views on bilateral relations, cooperation in various fields, as well as international and regional issues of mutual interest in the context of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. The leaders of the two countries will continue to provide a strong political guarantee for the development of high-level bilateral ties," said Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Russian Federation Zhang Hanhui.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's President Xi Jinping make a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21, 2023. (Photo by Pavel Byrkin / SPUTNIK / AFP) (Photo by PAVEL BYRKIN/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)
Putin noted that modern Russian-Chinese ties are independent of ideology and political conditions. Their multifaceted development is a conscious strategic choice based on the broad coincidence of fundamental national interests, deep mutual trust, strong public support and sincere friendship of the peoples of the two countries. We are talking about joint efforts to strengthen sovereignty, protect territorial integrity and security.
“And in a broader sense, on promoting the development and prosperity of Russia and China by increasing fair and mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic and humanitarian spheres, on strengthening foreign policy coordination in the interests of building a just multipolar world order the successful future of our global and strategic partnership in a new era,” the Russian leader said.
Putin noted that the basis of the Russian-Chinese partnership has always been and remains the principles of equality and trust, mutual respect for sovereignty and consideration of mutual interests, as well as a special and significant role in the development of relations between the two countries was interpreted by wise and far-sighted politicians and statesmen such as Chinese President Xi Jinping.
So far, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Putin have had more than 40 meetings, had in-depth exchanges of views on strategic issues such as governance, international trends and changes over the past century, and established a strong personal friendship.
Putin noted that modern Russian-Chinese ties are independent of ideology and political conditions. Their multifaceted development is a conscious strategic choice based on the broad coincidence of fundamental national interests, deep mutual trust, strong public support and sincere friendship of the peoples of the two countries. We are talking about joint efforts to strengthen sovereignty, protect territorial integrity and security.
“And in a broader sense, on promoting the development and prosperity of Russia and China by increasing fair and mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic and humanitarian spheres, on strengthening foreign policy coordination in the interests of building a just multipolar world order the successful future of our global and strategic partnership in a new era,” the Russian leader said.
Putin noted that the basis of the Russian-Chinese partnership has always been and remains the principles of equality and trust, mutual respect for sovereignty and consideration of mutual interests, as well as a special and significant role in the development of relations between the two countries was interpreted by wise and far-sighted politicians and statesmen such as Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“I first met him in March 2010 and we have been seeing and calling each other regularly ever since. You have a respectful, friendly, open and at the same time professional communication style. Each of our meetings is not only communication between old friends, which is important both for each, but also for a fruitful exchange of views on the most pressing issues of the bilateral and international agenda,” the Russian President said.
Putin fondly recalled Xi Jinping's state visit to Russia in March last year, soon after his re-election as President of the People's Republic of China. “As in 2013, our country was the first he visited as the Chinese head of state. We spent almost five hours together talking one-on-one and the next day we took part in a rich and meaningful official program." - said the Russian leader - "it was the unprecedented level of strategic partnership between our countries that determined my choice of China as the first state I will visit after officially assuming the position of President of the Russian Federation".
As the Russian President noted, the peoples of the two countries are linked by long and strong traditions of friendship and cooperation, which represent one of the most important foundations of bilateral relations. Today, Russian-Chinese relations have reached the highest level in history and, despite the difficult world situation, continue to strengthen.
Putin emphasized that this year is special for both countries. "October 1 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The country approaches this significant historical date with outstanding achievements that satisfy us as long-standing, reliable and time-tested friends," he said.
According to the leader of the Russian Federation, over three quarters of a century the two countries have traveled a long and sometimes difficult path. Russia and China have taken full account of the historical experience of bilateral relations at different stages of their development. Today they understand how powerful the impetus for rapid all-round development is resulting from the combination of complementary advantages.
Putin also said that trade and economic relations between Russia and China are developing at a rapid pace, demonstrating stable immunity to external challenges and crisis phenomena. In the last five years they have managed to double their bilateral trade turnover. At the same time, more than 90%. of payments between companies of the two countries are made in national currencies. China has been Russia's main trading partner for 13 years, and in 2023, Russia rose to 4th place in the ranking of China's trading counterparts.
The President of the Russian Federation noted that the two countries systematically and consistently develop strategic cooperation in the energy sector, where work is being done on new large-scale projects. Good dynamics are observed in the supply of Russian agricultural products to the Chinese market, initiatives in the areas of investment and production are being implemented, transport and logistics corridors between the two countries are constantly functioning and strengthening.
“I am confident in the great prospects of Russian-Chinese economic relations,” Putin stressed, highlighting that the countries will seek to establish closer cooperation in the fields of industry and high technology, space and peaceful nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, renewable energy sources and other innovative industries. "Of course we will continue to work to ensure favorable legal and organizational conditions and to develop financial and transport infrastructure," he added.
This year and next will be the Years of Culture of China and Russia. According to Putin, Russia and China have been inextricably linked to each other for centuries, not only by a long common border, but also by close cultural and human ties. In modern Russian society, interest in Chinese culture and art is also high, he noted, adding that in Russia about 90 thousand students and schoolchildren study Chinese. “Visits of creative groups and exhibitions with the participation of artists from the People's Republic of China are always a great success. With the abolition of quarantine restrictions, the tourist flow is growing dynamically. Last year they visited the People's Republic Chinese,” the Russian leader said.
“I know that in China they are also trying to learn more about Russian literature, art and traditions. Our famous theater groups and musicians regularly perform in the PRC, museums hold their exhibitions, Russian films are shown on large screens. With great pleasure we are ready to continue to acquaint Chinese friends with all the diversity of historical, creative and culture of the Russian multinational,” Putin said.
Putin also positively assessed the interaction between Russia and China on the international scene.
On the Ukraine war, Putin noted that Russia positively evaluates China's approaches to resolving the crisis. “Beijing is well aware of its root causes and global geopolitical significance, which is reflected in the 12-point plan “China's Position on the Political Resolution of the Ukrainian Crisis”, released in February 2023. The ideas and proposals recorded in the document indicate the sincere desire of our Chinese friends to contribute to the stabilization of the situation,” the President said.
Putin stressed that the four additional principles for resolving the conflict, recently expressed by Xi Jinping, organically complement the mentioned plan. The realistic and constructive steps proposed by Beijing develop ideas on the need to overcome the Cold War mentality, the indivisibility of security, respect for international law and the UN Charter as a whole and their interconnectedness, he added.
Sino-Russian cooperation
Sino-Russian trade in 2023 had two distinctive characteristics. First, the volume of trade turnover between the two countries reached an all-time record of 240.1 billion US dollars, exceeding the target of 200 billion dollars proposed by the leaders of the PRC and the Russian Federation ahead of schedule in 2019. In 2023, Chinese exports to Russia increased by 46.9% to $110.97 billion, while Russian exports to China totaled $129.13 billion. Energy cooperation is the most important area of Sino-Russian trade cooperation. In 2023, China imported 107 million tons of oil from Russia, making it China's largest oil supplier, which is of strategic importance to both countries.
Second, China and Russia have widely used local currencies. In 2023, more than 90% of cross-border settlements were made in national currencies, of which the ruble accounted for 33%, the yuan 60% and other currencies 7%. Although this is largely due to the current geopolitical situation, the agreements between China and Russia in national currencies have historical significance, and countries are ready to promote the use of local currencies in trade agreements within the BRICS. How to securely implement payments in local currencies and make them stable is the challenge both countries face.
In general, China and Russia exhibit high economic complementarity, which includes complementarity in economic structure, market, technology and workforce. If these complementary factors are fully realized, the potential of Sino-Russian trade and economic cooperation will be revealed to a greater extent. It is important to note that the practice of China-Russia trade and economic cooperation in 2023 has awakened the enthusiasm of entrepreneurs on both sides to deepen cooperation and encouraged them to show more interest in the development of energy, industrial, scientific and technological. This will undoubtedly contribute to further qualitative and quantitative growth of bilateral trade cooperation in general.
It is worth noting that the trade cooperation between China and Russia is a bilateral and mutually beneficial cooperation that does not harm the interests of third countries, no hidden threats or disagreements can affect the dynamics of bilateral cooperation. China and Russia, as always, will pursue each other's interests, explore and seek solutions to problems through trade cooperation, expand the scope of cooperation and improve its quality.
Putin noted that approximately 90,000 Russian students at various educational levels are learning Chinese, and tours and exhibitions involving Chinese artists have been highly successful. The number of tourists between the two continues to surge, with over 730,000 Russian citizens visiting China last year, he added.
Putin highly values the collaboration between Russia and China on the international stage.
He noted that the two countries hold similar or identical positions on key issues in the international agenda. Both advocate for the primacy role of international law, and support equal, indivisible, comprehensive and sustainable security at both the global and regional level with the UN's central coordinating role, he said, adding Russia and China also reject Western attempts to impose an order based on lies and hypocrisy, on some mythical rules of no one knows whose making.
Currently, multilateral mechanisms such as the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) are uniting countries of the "Global South" in a spirit of equality, openness, transparency and inclusiveness, pushing for reforms in the global governance system.
Putin noted that with active participation from Russia and China, multilateral organizations and mechanisms that are independent of the West are successfully operating, saying that in their work they build on the principles of equality, justice, transparency, respect and consideration of each other's interests.
"The Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, which have well established themselves as key pillars of the emerging multipolar world order, can be cited as vivid examples of such mutually beneficial cooperation. They have come to be reputable and dynamic international platforms whose participants build constructive political, security, economic and cultural and people-to-people interaction. Hence the ever increasing interest of other states in the work of these associations and the growing number of their participants," Putin said.
With the expansion as a new starting point, the BRICS cooperation mechanism has entered a new era of "greater BRICS cooperation." Russia is the rotating chair of the BRICS this year.
Putin stated that Russia's BRICS Chairmanship has gained a steady momentum, saying that full-scale work is underway on all three main pillars of cooperation -- politics and security, the economy and finance, and people-to-people exchanges, with more than 200 events planned during its chairmanship.
"One of the main goals of the Russian Chairmanship is undoubtedly the seamless integration of the BRICS new members. We are actively assisting them in joining the existing network of cooperation mechanisms," he said.
Another priority is to seek to continue coordinated work to enhance the visibility of BRICS in global affairs and build its capacity to promote a moredemocratic, stable and fairarchitecture of international relations, he added.
"Cooperation within BRICS relies on the principles of mutual respect, equality, openness and consensus. That is why countries of the Global South and East, which see BRICS as a platform for their voices to be certainly heard and taken into account, find our association so attractive," Putin said.
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