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MOSCOW, 24 Dec (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin held an annual large-scale press conference in Moscow on 23 December, answering 55 questions in the past four hours. He told the Xinhua reporter who asked questions at the scene that Russian-Chinese relations not only benefit the two peoples, but also are an important stabilizing factor in the international arena.
At the press conference, many media rushed to ask questions, and the questioner was randomly selected by Putin and the Russian presidential press secretary Peskov. Every year at the press conference, Putin would choose a question from the Chinese media.
Xinhua News Agency reporter Leo asked Putin after getting the opportunity to ask questions: "You said that Russian-Chinese relations are a 'model of cooperation between states in the 21st century.'" In today's special international environment, how do we understand your words? ”
On December 23, Xinhua News Agency reporter Leo asked Russian President Vladimir Putin a question at a press conference. (Video screenshot)
Putin replied that Russian-Chinese relations are an important stabilizing factor on the international stage. This kind of "absolute" comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination is unprecedented in history, at least in the history of Russia and China.
Putin said that China is Russia's largest trading partner, and the trade volume between the two countries has exceeded $100 billion, exceeding the pre-epidemic level.
He also said that Russia and China are currently cooperating in the field of security, and conduct joint exercises, joint patrols at sea and in the air. Russian-Chinese exchanges and cooperation in many fields such as energy, nuclear energy, space, high technology, humanities, youth, education, culture and so on are concrete embodiments of bilateral relations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held his annual press conference in Moscow on December 23. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Yevgeni Sinitzen)
Vasily Kashen, an expert at the Center for Integrated European and International Studies at the Russian Higher School of Economics, said that in recent years, China and Russia have continuously strengthened cooperation in the political, military, and economic fields. In the face of a complex and tense international situation, the strategic coordination relationship between the two countries is very important for maintaining security on both sides and even for maintaining world stability.
Alexander Koonkov, an associate professor at the School of Public Administration of Moscow State University in Russia, said that when Western politicians try to stir up Russian-Chinese relations and even adopt various means to prevent the further development of Russian-Chinese relations, Putin has repeatedly stressed the great significance of developing relations with China. At present, Russia-China relations are in the best period in unprecedented history, and Russia-China all-round pragmatic cooperation has shown great political advantages and opportunities.
Referring to "the United States and other countries claiming not to send officials to the Beijing Winter Olympics," Putin pointed out that its purpose is to "try to curb China's development," and there is no other reason than that. This decision is wrong, in an attempt to use sport to solve temporary political problems. They should finally realize that China's development is unstoppable.
Putin said that sports, like the arts, should unite people, not create problems between peoples. When sport loses its fundamental value, it will be detrimental to the entire international community.
In addition to Russian-Chinese relations, Putin also elaborated on domestic and foreign affairs such as Russian-Spanish relations, the new crown epidemic, and Russia's economic development.
Speaking of NATO's eastward expansion, Putin said that the Russian side has made it clear on many occasions that NATO's continued eastward expansion is absolutely unacceptable. In the 1990s, NATO promised not to expand eastward, but now Romania and Poland are deploying weapons systems, and the United States has deployed missiles on Russia's doorstep, which is a blatant deception of Russia.
Putin stressed that so far we have seen a positive reaction from the US side to the draft treaty on security guarantees proposed by the Russian side. The two sides may discuss the issue in Geneva early next year. In addition, Russia intends to discuss issues related to the security system with Western countries under the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Speaking of ukraine, Putin pointed out that there are always people who constantly play up the atmosphere of war, giving people a feeling that Ukraine may be ready to launch military operations against the Donbass region, and Western countries have urged Russia not to participate in it in advance, otherwise it will face new sanctions. In this case, Russia must consider how to guarantee its own security.
Talking about the new crown epidemic, Putin said that despite the challenges brought by the epidemic, the Russian economy began to recover this year after experiencing a recession in 2020. According to the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, the economic growth rate for the whole year will reach 4.3%. (Text reporters: Hua Di, Li Ao, Geng Pengyu; Video reporters: Hua Di, Li Ao, Chen Yan, Meng Jing; Reporters: Ye Fugeni; Editors: Xie Binbin, Yang Dehong; Editors: Ma Xiaoyan, Tang Zhiqiang, Sun Hao)
Produced by the International Department of Xinhua News Agency
Produced by Xinhua News Agency's International Communication Integration Platform