Russian media: Putin commented on the Beijing Winter Olympics and Russian-Chinese relations

On February 3, local time, the website of the Russian government organ "Russia Newspaper" published a commentary article entitled "Putin Comments on the Beijing Winter Olympics and Russian-Chinese Relations". The article focuses on russian president Vladimir Putin's written interview with China Central Radio and Television Director Shen Haixiong on the eve of his visit to China, calling for the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics and the principle of "fair competition" in international relations. The full text of the article is excerpted below:

Screenshot of the report on the website of the Russian newspaper

This is the second time that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been interviewed by Shen Haixiong, director of China's largest media organization, the China Central Radio and Television Station. In 2018, a month after the inauguration of The Re-elected President of Russia, Putin noted in his first interview with Mr. Shin, "We attach great importance to cooperation with traditionally reliable partners, allies and friends, including, without a doubt, the People's Republic of China." ”

President Putin continued the same statement in this interview. He pointed out that Russian-Chinese relations develop on the basis of equality and non-ideology. Our partnership is stable and has independent value, it is not influenced by politics and is not directed at anyone. This relationship is based on respect for and consideration of each other's fundamental interests, respect for international law and the Charter of the United Nations. "Political mutual trust has enabled our two countries to build an effective multi-level inter-state cooperation framework." Putin stressed.

The high degree of trust in the development of Russian-Chinese relations is not only at the level of the country's top leaders, but also reflected in the will of the people of the two countries. According to the results of the "2021 Poll on Sino-Russian Relations" recently released by the China-Russia Friendship, Peace and Development Committee and the China-Russia Headline Client of the Central Radio and Television Corporation, 72.6% of Russian respondents and 87% of Chinese respondents believe that China and Russia should further strengthen comprehensive strategic coordination. More than 91% of Russian respondents and more than 98% of Chinese respondents are full of confidence and expectations for further deepening Sino-Russian relations.

On February 4, Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing and attend the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics. Putin made it clear that attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics is a logical continuation of the glorious tradition of sports exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. In fact, "Olympic mutual visits" have become a good tradition in Russian-Chinese relations. In 2008, then-Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin came to China to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summer Olympics, and in 2014, President Xi Jinping went to Russia to attend the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics. Subsequently, the theme of sports was continuously sublimated in the process of "non-Olympic theme exchanges" between the two heads of state. In 2018, the two heads of state jointly watched the Russian-Chinese youth ice hockey tournament in Tianjin, and the two sides reached a broad consensus on strengthening cooperation in winter sports.

The Russian president is convinced that this visit to China to attend the Beijing Winter Olympics will not become the culmination of sports cooperation between the two countries, and the cooperation between the two countries in the field of sports will continue to grow and develop. "In December 2021, President Xi Jinping and I proclaimed 2022-2023 the 'Russian-Chinese Year of Sports Exchanges', which will surely become a major and remarkable event in the lives of our two peoples. The theme year includes approximately 500 different events in the areas of mass and youth sports, education, sports science and talent development. One of the most successful events will be held regularly. Putin said in an exclusive interview with the director of the station.

Source: CCTV