Xi, Putin jointly meet press
BEIJING, 17 May (BelTA — Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping and
Russian President Vladimir Putin jointly met the press in Beijing on
Thursday.
Xi noted that Putin’s state visit to China is his first
visit abroad since starting a new presidential term. It speaks to the
high importance that President Putin and the Russian side attach to the
relationship. Xi extended a warm welcome to Putin.
Xi said that
he and Putin had just concluded a sincere and cordial meeting covering
many topics. They had a comprehensive review of the successful
experience in developing the China-Russia relationship over the past 75
years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, had an in-depth
exchange of views on the relationship and on major international and
regional issues of mutual interest, and charted the course forward for
Sino-Russian relations and cooperation across the board.
Xi added
that he and Putin also signed and issued the Joint Statement of the
People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation on Deepening the
Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination for the New Era in
the Context of the 75th Anniversary of China-Russia Diplomatic
Relations, and witnessed the signing of a number of important
intergovernmental and interagency cooperation documents, which inject
new, strong impetus into the sound development of China-Russia
relations.
Xi stressed that this year marks the 75th anniversary
of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. In the past three
quarters of a century, the China-Russia relationship has grown stronger
amidst wind and rain. Since entering the new era, the relationship has
been further elevated, cooperation increasingly enriched, and lasting
friendship taking deeper root in the heart of the two peoples. The
China-Russia relationship has become a prime example of a new form of
international relations as well as good-neighborly relations between two
major countries. The notable progress in China-Russia relations is
attributable to the two countries’ commitment to five principles.
First,
Xi said, China and Russia are committed to mutual respect as the
fundamental principle of relations, and always render support for each
other’s core interests. The two presidents agree that the key to the two
countries’ finding a new path to growing relations between major and
neighboring countries lies in mutual respect and equality as well as
steadfast mutual support on issues concerning each other’s core
interests and major concerns. This is central to the China-Russia
comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era.
The
two sides will continue to uphold the principles of non-alliance,
non-confrontation and not targeting any third party, deepen two-way
political trust, respect each other’s choice of development path, and
realize development and revitalization with each other’s firm support,
Xi added.
Second, Xi said, China and Russia are committed to
win-win cooperation as the driving force of relations, and work to
foster a new paradigm of mutual benefit. Last year, two-way trade
exceeded 240 billion U.S. dollars, close to 2.7 times of that of a
decade ago. This is a good indication of the all-round cooperation of
mutual benefit that continues to deepen between the two countries. The
presidents agree that the two countries need to look for areas where
their interests converge, tap into their comparative strengths, deepen
the integration of interests, and enable each other’s success.
The
two countries need to make further structural improvements to their
cooperation, consolidate the good momentum in trade and other
traditional areas of cooperation, support the formation of platforms and
networks for basic research, continue to unlock cooperation potential
in frontier areas, step up cooperation on ports, transportation and
logistics, and help keep the global industrial and supply chains stable,
Xi said.
Third, China and Russia are committed to lasting
friendship as the foundation of relations, and carry forward the torch
of Sino-Russian friendship. Both China and Russia have a time-honored
history and a splendid culture. Works of Pushkin and Tolstoy are
household names in China, and Peking Opera and Tai Chi are much loved by
the Russian people. By focusing on implementing the Roadmap for
China-Russia Cooperation on People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges
Before 2030, the two countries are expanding people-to-people and
cultural ties, Xi said.
The two presidents have set 2024 and 2025
as China-Russia Years of Culture, proposed a series of cultural
activities that are down to earth, close to people’s hearts and popular
among them, and encouraged closer interactions between various sectors
and at subnational levels, so as to enhance mutual understanding and
affinity between the two peoples, Xi noted.
Fourth, Xi said,
China and Russia are committed to strategic coordination as an
underpinning of relations, and steer global governance in the right
direction. The two countries are firmly committed to safeguarding the
U.N.-centered international system and the international order
underpinned by international law. They stay in close coordination and
collaboration in multilateral platforms such as the U.N., APEC and G20,
and advance multipolarity and economic globalization in the spirit of
true multilateralism.
With Russia chairing BRICS this year and
China taking over the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization later this year, the two sides will support each other’s
chairmanship, build a high-quality partnership that is more
comprehensive, close, practical and inclusive, and build the unity and
strength of the Global South, he added.
Fifth, China and Russia
are committed to fairness and justice as the purpose of relations, and
dedicated to the political settlement of hotspots. Cold War mentality
still exists, and unilateralism, hegemonism, bloc confrontation and
power politics threaten world peace and the security of all countries.
The two presidents are of the view that it is urgent to solve the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict. U.N. resolutions must be earnestly
implemented and the question of Palestine must be solved on the basis of
the two-State solution, Xi said.
The two sides believe that a
political settlement is the right way forward for the Ukraine crisis.
China’s position on this issue is consistent and clear, including
observing the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, respecting
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, respecting
the legitimate security concerns of all parties, and building a new
security architecture that is balanced, effective and sustainable. China
hopes that peace and stability will return to the European continent at
an early date, and stands ready to play a constructive role to this
end, he said.
Xi pointed out that as a Chinese saying goes, «A
mountain is formed by accumulation of soil and an ocean is formed by
accumulation of water.» After 75 years of solid accumulation, lasting
friendship and all-round cooperation between China and Russia provide a
strong impetus for the two countries to forge ahead despite wind and
rain. Having reached a new starting point, China and Russia will always
remain committed to their founding purpose and jointly shoulder
responsibility to create more benefits for their peoples and make due
contribution to global security and stability.
