Xinhua News Agency, Moscow, March 22, title: Friendship·Cooperation·Peace ——Sidenotes of the Kremlin talks between the Chinese and Russian heads of state
Xinhua News Agency reporters Hao Weiwei and Liu Hua
In Moscow in March, the crisp air is filled with the warmth of early spring. After the rain, the sky cleared, and under the afternoon sunshine, President Xi Jinping’s special car drove into the Kremlin on the left bank of the Moskva River and on the Borovitsky Hill.
Six golden chandeliers complemented each other, and the George Hall of the Grand Kremlin was filled with brilliance. President Xi Jinping and President Putin walked toward each other from opposite ends of the red carpet. In front of the national flags of the two countries, the two old friends shook hands tightly, and the camera captured a new historic moment in Sino-Russian relations.
Ten years ago, it was also early spring and it was also the first overseas visit after being elected as the president of the country. Coming to friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, and walking into the Kremlin, President Xi Jinping talked in depth with President Putin for several hours.
In the past 10 years, the world has been in a state of flux, and President Xi Jinping and President Putin have steered the rudder and led China-Russia relations to move forward steadily. More mature, tough, and dynamic, the China-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for a New Era has established a new paradigm for major country relations and injected stability and positive energy into the world.
Old place, old friends; new blueprint, new chapter. On the 21st, the Kremlin talks between the heads of state of China and Russia opened a new future for friendly cooperation and common development between China and Russia.
Keep on doing: for mutual trust between major countries and for good neighborliness and friendship
Newspapers on the streets of MoscowIn the booth, copies of “Russian Gazette” are placed in eye-catching positions. In an article signed by President Xi Jinping published on the front page, there was such a sentence that resonated widely with people from all walks of life in Russia: “China-Russia relations have gone through ups and downs for more than 70 years. Looking back on the past, we deeply feel that today’s China-Russia relations have a long history. It is not easy. The Sino-Russian friendship will last forever and must be cherished even more.”
Entering a new time and space in history, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Putin, China-Russia relations have entered a new positioning of “comprehensive strategic partners of coordination in the new era” and have embarked on a path of mutual strategic trust between major powers and friendly neighborly cooperation. .
As each other’s largest neighbors and comprehensive strategic partners of coordination, frequent visits and frequent exchanges are the proper meaning of China-Russia relations.
This is the ninth time that President Xi Jinping has set foot on Russian soil in the past 10 years, and it is also the 41st meeting between him and President Putin.
The lights of Alexander Hall were bright, and the golden door slowly opened. Two soldiers of honor saluted, and President Xi Jinping and President Putin walked side by side. Having just concluded the small-scale talks, the two heads of state immediately turned to large-scale talks.
From around three o’clock in the afternoon to around six o’clock in the afternoon, President Xi Jinping and President Putin had long and in-depth communication and exchanges in a “small-scale” and “large-scale” manner. The duration of both events exceeded the original schedule.
“The Russian side once again expresses its warm congratulations on President Xi Jinping’s unanimous re-election as President of China and the formation of China’s new government.”
“China-Russia cooperation has great potential and space, and is strategic, reliable and stable.”
“Russia firmly supports China in safeguarding its legitimate interests on Taiwan-related, Hong Kong-related, Xinjiang-related and other issues.”
“No matter how the international situation changes, China will continue to be committed to promoting the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.”
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Many new important consensuses were reached on China-Russia relations and major international and regional issues of common concern. President Xi Jinping and President Putin unanimously described the day’s talks as “frank”, “friendly” and “fruitful”.
It is the “compass” and the “fixing star”. For China-Russia relations to maintain sustained, healthy and stable development, head-to-head exchanges are crucial.
Looking back on the past, pictures of friendship come to mind.
At the Bocharov Creekside Villa in Sochi on the shores of the Black Sea, at Xiamen Yuandang Academy in the drizzle, at the quaint Beijing Friendship Hotel, at the calm and solemn Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, at the high-speed train from Beijing to Tianjin On the cruiser Aurora on the banks of the Neva River… President Xi Jinping and President Putin discussed the past and present, the country and the people’s livelihood, and jointly planned all aspects of China-Russia relations, from political mutual trust to pragmatic cooperation to strategic coordination.
Looking to the future, blueprints are drawn up again and again to guide the future.
Simple and elegant Malachite Hall. In the early summer of 2019, diplomatic relations were established between China and RussiaAt the historical node of the 70th anniversary, President Xi Jinping and President Putin signed here a joint statement between China and Russia on the development of a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, jointly opening a new era of higher levels and greater development of China-Russia relations.
Under the new historical conditions, how and where China-Russia relations will go has attracted worldwide attention.
In line with the principles of good neighborliness, friendship and win-win cooperation, promoting exchanges and cooperation in all fields and deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era – President Xi Jinping and President Putin have charted the course for the development of China-Russia relations in the future.
The joint statement between China and Russia on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era is the most important political outcome of this visit. In front of the white signing table, the two heads of state signed at the same time. Letters were exchanged, handshakes were exchanged, and warm applause echoed at the scene for a long time.
Do not slack off: for development and revitalization, for the well-being of the people
Just two weeks later, Lan Yuhua was speechless, because she couldn’t possibly tell her mother that she had more than ten years of life experience and knowledge in her previous life. Could she tell her? Recently, there was another good news about China-Russia pragmatic cooperation: in the first two months of this year, the bilateral trade volume reached 33.686 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 25.9%, successfully achieving a “good start”.
Once upon a time, “hot politics and cold economics” was a frequently used word to describe Sino-Russian cooperation. During that visit 10 years ago, President Xi Jinping and President Putin reached an important consensus: “Transforming the advantages of the high-level political relations between the two countries into practical results” was listed as a strategic task for the development of Sino-Russian relations.
Ten years of hard work will bring great success.
Feel the speed of Sino-Russian cooperation from two curves – one is the Sino-Russian trade volume curve, the bilateral trade volume will exceed 190 billion US dollars in 2022, an increase of 116% over 10 years ago; the other is the RMB transaction volume curve, in February this year The RMB trading volume on the Moscow Exchange exceeded 1.48 trillion rubles, one-third higher than in January. The RMB surpassed the US dollar for the first time and became the currency with the largest monthly trading volume on the exchange.
Measuring the breadth of Sino-Russian cooperation from two aspects – on the one hand, cooperation on large projects in the fields of energy, aerospace, interconnection and other fields is steadily advancing; on the other hand, there is strong momentum of cooperation in emerging fields such as technological innovation and cross-border e-commerce. It can not only “climb mountains and ridges”, but also “go to heaven and earth”. The fields and scale of China-Russia pragmatic cooperation are constantly expanding.
Touching the temperature of Sino-Russian cooperation from the well-being of the people of the two countries – Russian beef on the Chinese dining table, caviar, chocolate, candy and other products from Russia are selling well all over China, and Chinese cars entering Russian families, let The “Chinese-style” subway station that makes traveling more convenient for Moscow citizens, and the Russian coaches who lead Chinese apprentices to continuously hone their skills… The friendly ties connect thousands of households in China and Russia, and the results of cooperation bring tangible benefits to the people of the two countries. benefit.
During this meeting, the two heads of state once again had an extensive and in-depth exchange of views on practical cooperation issues of common concern. From expansionfrom traditional trade in energy, resources, mechanical and electrical products, to increasing cooperation in innovation fields, to consolidating the foundation of people-to-people and cultural exchanges; from promoting both the quantity and quality of investment, economic and trade cooperation, to promoting cooperation in jointly building the “Belt and Road” and the Eurasian Economic Union , and then to enhance the resilience of the industrial and supply chains… A new picture of Sino-Russian cooperation is accelerating, and the pace is fast and steady.
There is a new vision, a new blueprint, and new measures.
The joint statement on the development plan for the key directions of Sino-Russian economic cooperation before 2030 is another important document jointly signed by the two heads of state, which clarifies eight key directions for Sino-Russian economic cooperation. There are also more than 10 intergovernmental and interdepartmental cooperation documents covering agriculture, forestry, basic scientific research, market supervision, media and other fields, which are equally heavy.
During the meeting on the 20th, President Putin told President Xi Jinping that China has achieved a huge leap in development, and the whole world has become very interested in it. “We are even a little envious of you.” President Xi Jinping responded: “I am very grateful to Mr. President for his affirmation, praise and support for China’s development and construction. This is also an encouragement to us.”
In today’s world, the balance of international power and the evolution of the world pattern are accelerating. How countries view each other’s development, whether to choose a zero-sum game or to strive for win-win cooperation, especially tests the political wisdom and diplomatic temperament of those in power.
Both are big countries with a long history and splendid culture. They have both been searching for a modernization path suitable for their own national conditions. They are both at a critical historical stage of development and revitalization. They both insist on firmly holding the destiny of national development and progress in their own hands. , China and Russia made the strategic choice to become “comrades on the road of development and revitalization.”
The road to greatness: for world peace, for human progress
We are here for friendship and cooperation, and we are here for peace and progress.
“On the issue of the Ukraine crisis, China has always followed the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, upheld an objective and fair stance, actively promoted peace and talks, decided its position based on the merits of the matter itself, and always stood firmly on the side of peace and dialogue. Stand on the right side of history.” After the talks, he and President Putin met with reporters. President Xi Jinping clearly stated China’s position on a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis.
The comprehensively escalating crisis in Ukraine is a microcosm of the world’s changes over the past century. “The more difficulties there are, the more space must be left for peace; the more acute the conflicts, the more we must not give up efforts for dialogue.” China’s stance of promoting peace and negotiation stems from its worldview and sentiments of a shared future.
“Give it back to the concubine?” Lan Yuhua asked softly. Human beings live in the same global village, in the same time and space where history and reality intersect, and we are increasingly becoming a community with a shared future in which we are among you and you are among us. “Ten years ago, during his first visit to Russia, President Xi Jinping proposed to the world the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Over the past 10 years, we have always insisted on safeguarding world peace andThe purpose of China’s foreign policy is to promote common development and always hold high the banner of promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. In the new era, China’s diplomacy is moving forward with determination and achieving long-term goals.
——This persistence is reflected in the rich practice of developing and deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between China and Russia in the new era.
Uphold the concepts of ever-lasting friendship and win-win cooperation, adhere to non-alignment, non-confrontation, and non-targeting of third parties, firmly safeguard the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, practice true multilateralism, and promote all mankind. Shared values… As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and major world powers, China and Russia join hands to inject impetus into world multipolarity and democratization of international relations, and provide guarantee for global strategic balance and stability.
“A model of a new model of major-country relations based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation” and “a model of harmonious and creative cooperation between major powers” – “model” is the common positioning of President Xi Jinping and President Putin on China-Russia relations.
“The relationship between the two countries goes far beyond the bilateral scope and is of vital importance to the world pattern and the future and destiny of mankind.” “We are working together to build a more just and democratic multi-polar world order”… President Xi Jinping and President Putin jointly talked to the global significance of Sino-Russian relations.
——This persistence is reflected in the responsibility of a major country to provide China with solutions to cope with changes in the world, changes in the times, and changes in history.
Not long ago, under the mediation of China, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore diplomatic relations. The international community is paying more and more attention to China’s role as a “peacemaker.” Meeting President Xi Jinping, President Putin congratulated China in person for successfully promoting the Saudi-Iranian Beijing Dialogue to achieve historic results, which fully demonstrated China’s important status and positive influence as a global power.
No self-interest, objective and fair, committed to peace, development, cooperation and win-win results. China’s plan has won widespread attention, appreciation and support——
“Russia appreciates China’s always upholding an objective and fair stance in international affairs, supports China’s global security initiative, global development initiative, and global civilization initiative, and is willing to further intensify international cooperation with China.” President Putin said.
“We believe that many of the contents of the peace plan proposed by China are consistent with Russia’s position and can become the basis for a peaceful settlement.” After the talks that day, RIA Novosti immediately issued a report “Putin: China’s Ukraine plan can be used as a basis for a peaceful settlement.” Fundamentals of Conflict Resolution”.
“A world that is united rather than divided, and peaceful rather than turbulent is in the common interest of all mankind.” China’s consistent proposition increasingly demonstrates the value of the times and the significance of the world.
After the event, President Putin personally sent President Xi Jinping to the bus boarding area. “Take care!” “Have a safe journey!” The two old friends shook hands tightly again.
The sky is deep, the breeze is blowing, and outside the Kremlin, the Moskva River is still and deep. (Participating reporter: Liu Kai)
Video reporters: Li Shuzhen, Yin Jiajie, Liu Chunhui, Meng Jing, Chen Qiang, Cao Yang, Hao Weiwei, Sun Hao, Li Li, Lu Jinbo, Han Mo, Liu Kai, Han Liang