Xi's tour underlines China-Russia consensus on enhancing ties

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Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia showed that the consensus on deepening mutual trust and coordination between the two countries is "unbreakable" and that China's belief in win-win cooperation is "unshakable," Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.

Xi wrapped up a three-day visit to Russia on Friday, during which he also attended the 23rd St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). It is his eighth visit to Russia since 2013, and comes as the two countries are embracing the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

During the trip, the Chinese president attended nearly 20 events in Moscow and St. Petersburg, which has delivered fruitful results, Wang noted.

With China and Russia promoting their ties, is the U.S. now the odd man out?

00:49

New era for China-Russia coordination

Xi and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin signed a joint statement on elevating China-Russia ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.

When meeting with Putin, Xi proposed that China and Russia should cement strategic support based on mutual trust, deepen converging interests and jointly achieve common revitalization, promote people-to-people exchanges and consolidate the foundation for lasting friendship, and shoulder more responsibility for global peace and stability.

The ties between China and Russia has become a major-country relationship featuring the highest degree of mutual trust and the highest level of strategic coordination, thus making a key contribution to preserving world peace and stability, said Wang.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R3) and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin hold talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, June 5, 2019. /Xinhua Photo

According to Wang, leaders of the two countries have agreed to deepen political mutual trust, strengthen strategic communication, intensify mutual support and firmly stick to the strategic direction of advancing bilateral relations.

Both leaders have also agreed to firmly uphold the international system based on international law and with the United Nations at its core, Wang said.

China and Russia have vowed to strengthen contemporary global strategic stability in a joint statement signed by the two heads of state, Wang noted.

Recognizing that the current international security is facing serious challenges, China and Russia are ready to deepen strategic mutual trust and strengthen strategic coordination to firmly safeguard global and regional strategic stability, according to the joint statement.

Since August 2017, China Railway Construction Corporation Limited has been building a 4.6-km section and three stations on the "Large Circle Line" in Moscow, Russia. /Xinhua Photo

The fact has proved that China and Russia need to strengthen solidarity and coordination to maintain global strategic stability and the balance of international power, said Wang.

During his visit, Xi was awarded an honorary doctorate from Russia's St. Petersburg State University, Putin's alma mater, which wrote another episode of exchanges between Chinese and Russian heads of state, as well as in the fields of people-to-people exchanges and education, Wang said.

The two heads of state also witnessed the signing of nearly 30 bilateral cooperation documents in a wide range of fields such as the economy and trade, energy, science and technology, aerospace, agriculture and education, he said.

02:17

The 'golden key' to solving global problems

In addition, the Chinese president addressed the plenary session of the SPIEF which is an important platform for the international community to share views on global economic development.

Xi highlighted sustainable development as the "golden key" to solving global problems, and the best entry point to cooperation for shared interests worldwide, Wang said.

He called for joint efforts in creating an open world economy, people-oriented and inclusive societies, and a beautiful homeland with harmonious coexistence between human and nature, so as to hold the "golden key" of sustainable development to solve global problems.

Xi underlined that China will continue opening-up, preserve the multilateral trading system, and carry out trade cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect, Wang added.

01:09

Xi proposes all-round energy cooperation between China and Russia

Xi said that China is willing to share its latest scientific achievements, including 5G technology with other countries, promote communication and cooperation in such areas as poverty reduction and social security, and join hands to tackle global climate change and other issues, Wang added.

It is widely held that China has been trying to achieve universal benefits through positive interactions with other countries instead of pursuing selfishness or playing a zero-sum game, said Wang.

(Cover: Russian President Vladimir Putin (R, front) invites Chinese President Xi Jinping (L, front) to a cruise tour on the Neva River in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 6, 2019. /Xinhua Photo)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency