By Vladimir Putin
March 22, 2023:
Information Clearing House
-- I am glad
to seize this opportunity to address
the friendly Chinese people in one
of the largest and most authoritative world
media in advance of the state visit of President
of the People’s Republic of China
Xi Jinping to Russia. This landmark event
reaffirms the special nature of the Russia-China
partnership, which has always been built
on mutual trust, respect for each other's
sovereignty and interests.
We have high expectations
for the upcoming talks. We have no doubt that
they will give a new powerful impetus to our
bilateral cooperation in its entirety. This is
also a great opportunity for me to meet with
my good old friend with whom we enjoy
the warmest relationship.
I made acquaintance with Comrade Xi
Jinping in March 2010 when he visited Moscow
as head of a high-level Chinese delegation. Our
first meeting was held in a very business-like
and at the same time sincere and friendly
atmosphere. I really like this style
of communication. I know that people in China
attach great importance to friendship
and personal relationships. It is no coincidence
that Confucius the Sage said: ”Is it not a joy
to have friends coming from afar!“ In Russia we
share this value and hold real friends
for brothers. Our two peoples have very much
in common here.
Three years later, about the same days
in March, we met again in the capital of Russia.
It was Xi Jinping's first state visit to our
country after his election as President
of the People's Republic of China. The summit
set the tone and dynamics of Russia-China
relations for many years to come, became clear
evidence of the special nature of relations
between Russia and China, and outlined
the trajectory for their accelerated
and sustainable development.
Since then, a decade has passed, which is
but a fleeting moment in the history of our
countries sharing a centuries-old tradition
of good neighbourliness and cooperation. During
this time, the world has seen many changes,
often not for the better. Yet the main thing has
remained unchanged: I am talking of the firm
friendship between Russia and China, which is
consistently growing stronger for the benefit
and in the interest of our countries
and peoples. The progress made
in the development of bilateral ties is
impressive. The Russia-China relations have
reached the highest level in their history
and are gaining even more strength; they surpass
Cold War-time military-political alliances
in their quality, with no one to constantly
order and no one to constantly obey, without
limitations or taboos. We have reached
an unprecedented level of trust in our political
dialogue, our strategic cooperation has become
truly comprehensive in nature and is standing
on the brink of a new era. President Xi Jinping
and I have met about 40 times and have always
found time and opportunity to talk in a variety
of official formats as well as at no‑tie events.
Our priorities include trade and economic
partnership. In 2022, our bilateral trade, which
had already been considerable by the time,
doubled to reach USD 185 billion. This is a new
record. What is more, we have every reason
to believe that the USD 200 billion target,
which was set by President Xi Jinping
and myself, will be exceeded as early as this
year instead of 2024. It is noteworthy that
the share of settlements in national currencies
in our mutual trade is growing, further
strengthening the sovereignty of our relations.
Long-term joint plans and programs are
being successfully implemented. It will be no
exaggeration to say that the Power of Siberia
Russian-Chinese gas pipeline has become
the ”deal of the century“ for its scale.
The supplies of Russian oil and coal have
increased significantly. Our specialists are
involved in building new nuclear power units
in China, while Chinese companies actively
engage in LNG projects; our industrial
and agricultural cooperation is growing
stronger. Together we explore outer space
and develop new technologies.
Russia and China are powers with ancient
and unique traditions and an enormous cultural
heritage. Now that all pandemic-related
restrictions on mutual contacts have been
lifted, it is important that we increase
humanitarian and tourist exchanges as soon
as possible, thereby strengthening the social
basis of the Russian-Chinese partnership.
Interstate thematic years have a special role
to play in this context. For example,
the 2022/2023 biennium is dedicated
to cooperation in the field of physical culture
and sports, which is very popular among our
citizens.
Unlike some countries claiming hegemony
and bringing discord to the global harmony,
Russia and China are literally and figuratively
building bridges. Last year our border regions
were connected by two new bridge crossings over
the Amur river, which has been a ”river
of friendship“ since time immemorial. Amidst
the ”waves and winds“ that sweep the planet, we
closely cooperate in international affairs
and effectively coordinate our foreign policy
positions, counter common threats, and respond
to current challenges, standing shoulder
to shoulder as a ”rock amid a fast flowing
stream.“ We actively promote democratic
multilateral structures such as the SCO
and BRICS,
which become more and more authoritative
and influential and attract new partners
and friends. The work aimed at coordinating
the development of the Eurasian
Economic Union with the One Belt, One Road
Initiative also goes in this vein.
Our countries, together with like-minded
actors, have consistently advocated the shaping
of a more just multipolar world order based
on international law rather than certain ”rules“
serving the needs of the ”golden billion.“
Russia and China have consistently worked
to create an equitable, open and inclusive
regional and global security system that is not
directed against third countries. In this
regard, we note the constructive role of China's
Global Security Initiative, which is in line
with the Russian approaches in this area.
We can feel the geopolitical landscape
in the outside world change dramatically.
Sticking more stubbornly than ever to its
obsolete dogmata and vanishing dominance,
the ”Collective West“ is gambling on the fates
of entire states and peoples. The US's policy
of simultaneously deterring Russia and China,
as well as all those who do not bend
to the American dictation, is getting ever more
fierce and aggressive. The international
security and cooperation architecture is being
dismantled. Russia has been labelled
an ”immediate threat“ and China a ”strategic
competitor.“
We appreciate the well-balanced stance
on the events in Ukraine adopted by the PRC,
as well as its understanding of their historical
background and root causes. We welcome China's
readiness to make a meaningful contribution
to the settlement of the crisis. Like our
friends in China, we advocate for the strict
compliance with the UN Charter, respect
for the norms of international law, including
humanitarian law. We are committed
to the principle of the indivisibility
of security, which is being grossly violated
by the NATO bloc. We are deeply concerned over
the irresponsible and outright dangerous actions
that jeopardize nuclear security. We reject
illegitimate unilateral sanctions, which must be
lifted.
Russia is open to the political
and diplomatic resolution of the Ukraine crisis.
It was not Russia who broke off the peace talks
back in April 2022. The future of the peace
process depends solely on the will to engage
in a meaningful discussion taking into account
current geopolitical realities. Unfortunately,
the ultimatum nature of requirements placed
on Russia shows that their authors are detached
from these realities and lack interest
in finding a solution to the situation.
The crisis in Ukraine, which was provoked
and is being diligently fuelled by the West, is
the most striking, yet not the only,
manifestation of its desire to retain its
international dominance and preserve the unipolar
world order. It is crystal clear that NATO is
striving for a global reach of activities
and seeking to penetrate the Asia-Pacific. It
obvious that there are forces persistently
working to split the common Eurasian space into
a network of ”exclusive clubs“ and military
blocs that would serve to contain our countries'
development and harm their interests. This won't
work.
In fact, today, the Russia-China
relations serve as the cornerstone of regional
and global stability, driving the economic
growth and securing the positive agenda
in international affairs. They provide
an example of harmonious and constructive
cooperation between major powers.
I am convinced that our friendship
and partnership based on the strategic choice
of the peoples of the two countries will further
grow and gain strength for the well-being
and prosperity of Russia and China. This visit
of the President of the PRC to Russia will
undoubtedly contribute to that.
http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/70743
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in this article are
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