Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation on International Relations and Global Sustainable Development in the New Era (Full Text)

The two sides expressed grave concern about the establishment of the "Trilateral Security Partnership" (AUKUS) by the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, especially in areas involving strategic stability such as nuclear-powered submarines, and held that the above-mentioned acts are contrary to the goal of ensuring security and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region, aggravating the danger of regional arms race and posing a serious risk of nuclear proliferation. The two sides strongly condemn similar acts and urge AUKUS member states to strictly fulfill their obligations to prevent nuclear and missile proliferation and maintain regional peace, stability and development. The two sides expressed serious concerns about Japan's intention to discharge radioactive contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident into the ocean and its potential environmental impact, and stressed the need for Japan to properly dispose of radioactively contaminated water in a responsible manner in full consultation with its neighboring countries and other stakeholders and relevant international agencies, on the basis of openness, transparency, scientific argumentation and compliance with international law. The two sides believe that after the United States withdraws from the INF Treaty, it will accelerate the research and development of land-based medium- and short-range missiles, seek to deploy them in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe and provide them to its allies, exacerbate tensions and mistrust, increase international and regional security risks, weaken the international non-proliferation and arms control system, and undermine global strategic stability. The two sides urged the United States to respond positively to the Russian initiative and abandon the deployment of land-based medium- and short-range missile programs in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. The two sides will maintain communication and strengthen coordination in this regard. China understands and supports Russia's proposal to build legally binding long-term European security guarantees. The two sides pointed out that the withdrawal of the United States from a series of important international agreements in the field of arms control has had a huge negative impact on international and regional security and stability. The two sides expressed concern about the United States' advance of the global anti-missile program and the deployment of anti-missile systems around the world, while strengthening high-precision non-nuclear weapons forces with the ability to carry out strategic tasks such as pre-emptive strikes. The two sides stressed the importance of the peaceful uses of outer space, firmly supported the central position of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in promoting international cooperation in outer space, maintaining and developing international law in the field of outer space and the control of outer space activities, and will continue to strengthen cooperation on issues of mutual concern such as the long-term sustainability of outer space activities and the development and utilization of space resources. The two sides oppose attempts by individual countries to evolve outer space into military confrontational territories, reaffirm that they will make every effort to prevent the weaponization and arms race in outer space, oppose relevant activities aimed at seeking military superiority in outer space and carrying out outer space operations, and reaffirm that negotiations and the conclusion of legally binding multilateral documents should be initiated as soon as possible on the basis of the draft Sino-Russian "Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space and the Threat or Use of Force against Outer Space Objects" to provide fundamental and reliable guarantees for the prevention of an arms race and weaponization in outer space. China and Russia stress that international initiatives/political commitments on transparency and confidence-building measures, including "no first deployment of weapons in outer space", contribute to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space, but that such measures are only complementary measures to regulate outer space activities and should not replace effective legal constraint mechanisms. The two sides reaffirmed that the Biological Weapons Convention is a vital pillar of international peace and security and resolved to preserve its authority and effectiveness. The two sides reaffirmed that the Convention should be fully complied with and further strengthened, including the institutionalization of the Convention, the strengthening of the Convention's mechanisms, the conclusion of a legally binding protocol containing an effective verification mechanism, and the resolution of any issues related to the implementation of the Convention through regular consultations and cooperation. The two sides stressed that the biomilitary activities carried out by the United States and its allies at home and abroad have aroused serious concern and doubts from the international community about their compliance. The relevant activities pose a serious threat to the national security of China and Russia, and also damage the security of the relevant areas. The two sides urged the United States and its allies to clarify their biological militarization activities at home and abroad in an open, transparent, and responsible manner, while supporting the resumption of negotiations on a legally binding verification protocol to the Biological Weapons Convention. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the goal of a world free of chemical weapons and called on all States parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention to jointly uphold the authority and effectiveness of the Convention. China and Russia express their deep concern about the politicization of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and call on States parties to strengthen solidarity and cooperation and preserve the tradition of consensus. China and Russia urge the United States, as the only State party that has not completed the destruction of chemical weapons, to accelerate the destruction of stockpiled chemical weapons. The two sides stressed that it is necessary to balance the implementation of non-proliferation obligations and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of countries in carrying out international cooperation in the field of advanced technology, materials and equipment for peaceful use. The two sides pointed out that the resolution on "Promoting International Cooperation in the Field of Peaceful Uses" proposed by the Chinese side and jointly proposed by the Russian side was adopted by the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, and it is hoped that the resolution will be implemented in accordance with the set objectives. The two sides attach great importance to the issue of AI governance. The two sides are willing to strengthen exchanges and dialogues on artificial intelligence issues. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepen collaboration in the field of international information security and promote an open, secure, sustainable and accessible ICT environment. The two sides stressed the applicability of the principles of non-use of force, respect for national sovereignty and fundamental human rights and freedoms, and non-interference in internal affairs established in the Charter of the United Nations to the information space, reaffirmed the key role of the United Nations in addressing threats to international information security, and supported the United Nations in formulating new norms of national conduct in this field. The two sides welcome the global negotiations in the field of international information security within the framework of a unified mechanism, support the work of the United Nations Open Working Group on Information Security for 2021-2025, and are willing to express their common position within the Working Group. The two sides believe that the international community should work together to formulate a new and responsible national code of conduct in the information cyberspace, including a universal international legal instrument with legal effect to regulate the activities of all countries in the field of information and communication technology. The two sides believe that the Global Data Security Initiative, proposed by China and supported by Russian principles, provides a basis for the Working Group to discuss and formulate countermeasures to international information security threats such as data security. The two sides reaffirmed their support for United Nations General Assembly resolutions 74/247 and 75/282, supported the work of the Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Committee of Experts, promoted the negotiation of an international convention on combating the use of information and communication technologies for criminal purposes within the framework of the United Nations, advocated constructive participation in the negotiations and ensured the early conclusion and submission of an authoritative and universal comprehensive convention to the General Assembly at its 78th session, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 75/282. China and Russia have jointly submitted the draft convention as a basis for relevant negotiations. The two sides support the construction of an international Internet governance system, and believe that all countries enjoy the right to Internet governance equally, sovereign countries have the right to control and protect their own network security, any attempt to restrict national network sovereignty is unacceptable, and the International Telecommunication Union should be promoted to play a more active role in resolving relevant issues. The two sides will deepen bilateral cooperation in the field of ensuring international information security on the basis of the Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Russian Federation on Cooperation in the Field of Safeguarding International Information Security (signed on May 8, 2015), and agree to adopt a cooperation plan between the two countries in this field in the near future. The two sides stressed that China and Russia, as world powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council, will uphold their responsibilities and morality, firmly safeguard the international system in which the UN plays a core coordinating role in international affairs, firmly safeguard the international order based on international law, including the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, promote world multipolarization and democratization of international relations, jointly build a more prosperous, stable, fair and just world, and work together to build a new type of international relations. The Russian side positively evaluates China's concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, which helps to strengthen the unity of the international community and work together to meet common challenges. China positively evaluates Russia's efforts to promote the construction of a just and multipolar system of international relations. The two sides firmly defend the achievements of the victory in World War II and the post-war international order, resolutely safeguard the authority of the United Nations and international fairness and justice, and oppose attempts to negate, distort and falsify the history of World War II. In order to prevent the tragedy of the world war from repeating, the two sides resolutely condemn the acts of shirking historical responsibility for the fascists and militarist aggressors and their accomplices and slandering and smearing the victorious countries. The two sides advocate and promote the construction of a new type of major-country relationship featuring mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, and point out that the new type of inter-state relations between China and Russia transcend the model of military and political alliance during the Cold War. There is no end to friendship between the two countries, no forbidden area for cooperation, and strengthening strategic coordination is not aimed at third countries, nor is it affected by changes in the third country and the international situation. The two sides reaffirmed that the international community should unite rather than divide and cooperate rather than confront. The two sides oppose the return of international relations to the era of confrontation between major powers and the predation of the weak. Oppose attempts to replace universally agreed arrangements and mechanisms consistent with international law with "small circle" rules formulated by individual countries and groups of countries, oppose the use of unconsenited circumvention solutions to international problems, oppose power politics, bullying, unilateral sanctions and "long-arm jurisdiction", oppose the abuse of export controls, and support and promote trade in line with WTO rules. The two sides reaffirmed that they will strengthen foreign policy coordination, practice genuine multilateralism, strengthen cooperation within multilateral mechanisms, safeguard common interests, maintain the balance of international and regional forces, and work together to improve global governance. The two sides support and uphold the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, actively participate in WTO reform, and oppose unilateralism and protectionism. The two sides will strengthen dialogue, cooperation and coordination of positions on economic and trade issues of common concern, contribute to ensuring the long-term and stable operation of the global and regional industrial chain supply chains, and promote the construction of a more open, inclusive, transparent and non-discriminatory international economic and trade rule system. The two sides support the G20 in playing its role as the main forum for international economic cooperation and an important platform for crisis response, jointly promoting the G20 to carry forward the spirit of solidarity and cooperation, play a leading role in the international fight against the epidemic, restore the world economy, promote inclusive and sustainable development, and improve the fair and reasonable global economic governance system, and work together to address global challenges. The two sides support brics in deepening their strategic partnership, expanding cooperation in the three major directions of political security, economy, trade and finance, and people-to-people exchanges, promoting cooperation in scientific and technological innovation fields such as public health, digital economy and artificial intelligence, and improving the level of international cooperation among BRICS countries. The two sides are committed to using the BRICS+ model and the BRICS Dialogue as an effective dialogue mechanism with developing and emerging market countries, regional integration mechanisms and organizations. The Russian side will fully support China in doing a good job in the work of the BRICS presidency in 2022 and jointly promote the fruitful results of the 14th BRICS Summit. The two sides will comprehensively enhance and further enhance the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and promote the construction of a multipolar world pattern on the basis of universally recognized norms of international law, multilateralism, equality, commonness, indivisibility, integration, cooperation and sustainable security. The two sides believe that it is of great importance to implement the consensus on improving the response of SCO member states to security challenges and threats, and to this end the two sides support the expansion of the functions of the SCO regional anti-terrorist structure. The two sides will promote the upgrading of economic cooperation among the SCO member states, continue to strengthen cooperation among the member states in trade, industry, transportation, energy, finance, investment, agriculture, customs, telecommunications, innovation and other areas of common interest, and carry out the application of advanced, resource-saving, energy-saving and green technologies. The two sides noted the fruitful results of cooperation within the framework of the SCO Member States on International Information Security Cooperation Agreement on Guaranteeing International Information Security (signed on June 16, 2009) and the Cooperation Plan for international information security of the SCO Member States for the period 2022-2023 adopted by the Council of Heads of State of the SCO Member States in Dushanbe on September 17, 2021. The two sides believe that the importance of people-to-people cooperation to the development of the SCO is constantly increasing. The two sides will further deepen cooperation in culture, education, science and technology, health, environmental protection, tourism, personnel exchanges and sports among the SCO member states, so as to enhance mutual understanding among the peoples of the SCO member states. The two sides will continue to consolidate APEC's role as the region's main multilateral economic dialogue platform, strengthen collaboration in the implementation of the APEC Butrajaya Vision 2040, build a free, open, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent and predictable regional trade and investment environment, focus on strengthening response to COVID-19, promote economic recovery, promote digital transformation in various fields, and revitalize economies in remote areas, and support APEC and multilateral organizations in other regions to collaborate in the above areas. The two sides will continue to cooperate within the framework of the China-Russia-India Mechanism and strengthen collaboration in platforms such as the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Regional Forum, and the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Enlargement Meeting. China and Russia support ASEAN's central position in East Asian cooperation, continue to strengthen coordination with ASEAN on deepening cooperation, jointly promote cooperation in public health, sustainable development, counter-terrorism and combating transnational crime, and strengthen ASEAN's role as a key component of building a regional architecture. February 4, 2022 in Beijing (end)