Putin: Russia and China, strategic partners with an eye to the future

Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin published a signed article entitled "Russia and China: Strategic Partners with An Eye on the Future" through Xinhua News Agency on the 3rd. The article is as follows:

Russia and China: Strategic partners with an eye to the future

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin

As I approach my upcoming visit to China, I am delighted to have the opportunity to communicate directly with the vast chinese and foreign readers of Xinhua News Agency, the largest news organization.

Our two countries are close neighbors and have a long tradition of friendship and trust. We highly appreciate the Russian-Chinese comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, which has entered a new era and reached an unprecedented level, becoming a model of efficiency, responsibility and future-orientedness. Last year we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation. The Treaty sets out the basic principles and guidelines for the joint efforts of our two countries, which are, first and foremost, equality, consideration of each other's interests, freedom from the shackles of politics and ideology and freedom from the influence of the past. It is on the basis of these principles that, year after year, we continue to deepen our political dialogue in a spirit of perseverance. Despite the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are actively working to tap the potential of economic partnerships and expand people-to-people exchanges.

During our upcoming visit, President Xi Jinping and I will comprehensively discuss key issues on bilateral, regional and global agendas. Symbolically, our meeting will be held during the Lunar New Year "Spring Festival". As the Chinese proverb goes, "The plan of the year lies in spring."

Of course, we plan to focus on the development of economic and trade cooperation. In this regard, we have everything in place, because our two countries have abundant financial, productive, technological and human resources, which enable us to successfully complete the task of long-term development, jointly achieve stable economic growth, enhance the well-being of citizens, enhance competitiveness, and jointly resist contemporary risks and challenges.

In 2021, bilateral trade volume grew by more than one-third, breaking through the $140 billion mark, and we are confident of moving towards the goal of $200 billion in annual trade. We are implementing a number of important initiatives in the areas of investment, production and industry and agriculture, notably the Intergovernmental Committee on Investment Cooperation 'Portfolio', which includes 65 projects worth more than $120 billion, involving cooperation in areas such as mineral extraction and processing, infrastructure development and agriculture.

We are constantly expanding local currency settlements and establishing mechanisms to eliminate the negative impact of unilateral sanctions. The Agreement between the Russian Government and the Chinese Government on Settlement and Payment, signed in 2019, became an important milestone in this work.

A mutually beneficial energy alliance is being formed between our two countries. In addition to the long-term delivery of oil and gas to China, we plan to implement a series of large-scale joint projects. One such project is the construction of four new generating units at China's nuclear power plants starting last year with the participation of the Russian State Atomic Energy Group. All of this has greatly enhanced energy security in China and throughout the Asian region.

We believe that the two countries have a wide range of opportunities for developing partnerships in the information and communications industry, medicine, space exploration, including the application of national navigation systems and the implementation of the International Lunar Research Station project. The mutual organization of the "Year of Science and Technology Innovation" between the two countries in 2020-2021 has injected a huge impetus into strengthening bilateral relations.

We would like to thank our Chinese colleagues for their assistance in the production of Russian "Satellite-V" and "Satellite-Light" vaccines in China and for the timely delivery of necessary protective equipment to the mainland. We hope that this cooperation will continue to consolidate and expand.

Accelerating the socio-economic development of Siberia and the Far East is one of Russia's strategic tasks. These are the regions closest to China. We plan to actively develop local cooperation, attract Chinese investment and technology, and expand global transport and trade routes. For example, the Modernization of the Baikal-Amur Railway and the Trans-Trans-Siberian Railway has begun. By 2024, its capacity will be doubled and doubled by increasing transit freight volumes and shortening transit times. In addition, the port infrastructure in the Russian Far East has also been developed. All this will further enhance the complementarity of the Russian-Chinese economies.

Of course, the careful protection of nature and common ecosystems remains an important area of cooperation between our local and border areas. These issues have always been the focus of attention for the people of our two countries, and as with a wide range of human issues, we will certainly discuss them in detail during the talks.

Both Russia and China are big countries with thousands of years of unique traditions and brilliant cultures, and there is a huge interest in the Chinese of Russia, both in our two countries and in other countries. Although tourist traffic, joint large-scale events and direct contact between the people of the two countries have declined over the past two years due to the pandemic, I have no doubt that we will struggle to catch up. As soon as circumstances permit, we will launch new awareness and education programs to educate our people about the history and life of our people today. I and Chinese President Xi Jinping have decided to host the "Russian-Chinese Year of Sports Exchanges" in 2022 and 2023.

Of course, discussing international hotspot issues will also be an important part of this visit. A similar and consistent position on the resolution of global and regional issues is the basis for the coordinated foreign policy of Russia and China. Our two countries play an important stabilizing role in today's complex international situation, constantly promoting the democratization of the system of international relations in order to make it more equitable and inclusive. We are working together to strengthen the central coordinating role of the United Nations in international affairs and to prevent the erosion of the international legal system, with the Charter of the United Nations at its core.

Russia and China are actively cooperating on the broadest agenda within brics, the Russian-Indian-Chinese mechanism, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other multilateral frameworks. In the G20, we argue that both the fight against the pandemic and the implementation of the climate agenda should take into account the specific circumstances of each country when formulating recommendations. At the G20 Summit in Rome in 2021, the parties finally made a deliberate decision on international cooperation on restoring economic growth, endorsing vaccines and vaccine certificates, optimizing the energy transition and reducing the risks of digitalization, thanks in large part to the solidarity of our two countries.

We share the same position on international trade issues. We advocate upholding an open, transparent and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system based on the rules of the World Trade Organization and endorse the reopening of global supply chains. As early as March 2020, Russia launched an initiative to build a trade "green corridor" without any sanctions, political and administrative barriers. The implementation of the initiative will help to overcome the economic impact of the pandemic.

The upcoming XXIV Winter Olympics in Beijing are the most important international event. Both Russia and China are major sports countries known for their sports traditions, and both have hosted major international events on many occasions. I attended the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Beijing in August 2008 and left me with warm memories. The wonderful performance made the guests and athletes from Russia unforgettable, and the Chinese friends hosted this unique event with their unique hospitality. Similarly, we are pleased to host Chinese President Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Regrettably, recently, attempts by some countries to politicize the issue of sport for their own self-interest have become increasingly apparent. This is fundamentally wrong and contrary to the spirit and principles of the Olympic Charter. The power and greatness of sports is that it unites people to be proud of their country's glory and victory, and to take pride in fair, fair and indomitable competition. Most countries (participants in the International Olympic Movement) share this view.

Chinese friends have done a lot of work to prepare for the Winter Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games with high quality. I am confident that China's extensive experience in organizing representative international events will enable it to host this world sporting event at the highest level. I wish the Russian team and the Chinese team another good result and a new record!

On the occasion of the Spring Festival in the Year of the Tiger, I extend my warmest congratulations to the friendly Chinese people. I wish you good health and all the best!