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

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, February 4

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

At the invitation of President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China, the President of the Russian Federation, V. Vladimir Putin, visited China on February 4, 2022. The two heads of state held talks in Beijing and attended the opening ceremony of the 24th Winter Olympic Games.

The People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as "the Parties"), declare the following:

At present, the world is experiencing major changes, and human society has entered a new era of great development and great changes. The multipolarization of the world, economic globalization, social informatization, and cultural diversification have continued to develop, the global governance system and the reform of the international order have continued to advance, the interconnection and interdependence of countries have been greatly deepened, the distribution of international forces has tended to be reconstructed, and the international community's call for peace and sustainable development has become stronger. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread around the world, the international and regional security situation is becoming increasingly complex, and the global threats and challenges are rising day by day. A small number of forces in the international community continue to stubbornly pursue unilateralism, resort to power politics, interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, harm the legitimate rights and interests of other countries, create contradictions, differences and confrontations, and hinder the development and progress of human society. The international community will never accept this.

The two sides called on all countries to proceed from the common well-being of all mankind, strengthen dialogue, enhance mutual trust, build consensus, safeguard the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom for all mankind, respect the right of the people of all countries to independently choose the path of development and the sovereign security and development interests of all countries, safeguard the international system with the United Nations as the core and the international order based on international law, practice genuine multilateralism in which the United Nations and the United Nations Security Council play a core coordinating role, promote the democratization of international relations, and achieve world peace. Stability and sustainable development.

One

The two sides unanimously held that democracy is a common value of all mankind, not the patent of a few countries, and that the promotion and protection of democracy is the common cause of the international community.

The two sides believe that democracy is a way for citizens to participate in the management of their own affairs, aimed at improving people's livelihood and well-being, and realizing the people's mastery. Democracy should be the whole process and oriented to all the people, embodying the interests and will of all the people, protecting the rights of the people, meeting the needs of the people, and safeguarding the interests of the people. The practice of democratic institutions is not rigid and should take into account the socio-political systems and historical, traditional and cultural characteristics of different countries. Peoples have the right to choose the forms and modalities of democratic practice that are appropriate to their national circumstances. Whether a country is democratic or not can only be judged by the people of that country.

The two sides pointed out that as a world power with a long historical and cultural tradition, China and Russia's profound democratic traditions are rooted in the millennium of development experience, widely supported by their own people, and embody the needs and interests of citizens. China and Russia have ensured that their people enjoy the right to participate in the management of state and social affairs through various channels and forms in accordance with the law. The peoples of the two countries have full self-confidence in the path and respect the democratic institutions and traditions of other countries.

The two sides pointed out that democratic principles should be reflected not only in domestic governance but also at the global governance level. The attempts of individual countries to draw ideological lines, to force other countries to accept the "democratic standards" of these countries, and to monopolize the definition of democracy through cobbled together various small groups and "situational" alliances, are in fact a violation of democracy and a betrayal of the spirit of democracy and the values of true democracy. Such acts of seeking hegemonic status pose a serious threat to regional and global peace and stability and undermine the stability of the international order.

The two sides firmly believe that the defense of democracy and human rights should not be used as a tool to exert pressure on other countries. The two sides oppose any country's abuse of democratic values, interference in the internal affairs of sovereign countries under the pretext of upholding democracy and human rights, and provoking world division and confrontation. The two sides called on the international community to respect the cultural and civilizational diversity of nations and the right of peoples of different countries to self-determination. The two sides are willing to work with all willing countries to promote genuine democracy.

The two sides pointed out that the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights have set lofty goals and laid down basic principles for the global cause of human rights, which all countries should follow and practice. At the same time, the national conditions of different countries and the differences in history, culture, social system, and level of economic and social development, we must adhere to the integration of the universality of human rights with the actual conditions of various countries, and protect human rights in accordance with their own national conditions and the needs of the people. The promotion and protection of human rights is the common cause of the international community, and all countries should attach equal importance to and systematically promote all kinds of human rights. International human rights cooperation should be discussed by all countries on the basis of dialogue on an equal footing, all countries should enjoy equal rights to development, and all countries should carry out human rights cooperation and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect, so as to strengthen the construction of the international human rights system.

Two

The two sides believe that peace, development and cooperation are the mainstream of today's international system. Development is the key to achieving the well-being of people. The continued spread of covid-19 poses a serious challenge to the global implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and it is essential to improve the global partnership for development and push global development to a new stage of balance, coordination and inclusiveness.

The two sides will actively promote the docking and cooperation between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union, and deepen pragmatic cooperation between China and the Eurasian Economic Union in various fields. Improve connectivity between the Asia-Pacific region and the Eurasian region. The two sides are willing to continue to promote the parallel and coordinated development of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Greater Eurasian Partnership, promote the development of regional organizations and the process of bilateral and multilateral economic integration, and benefit the people of all countries in Eurasia.

The two sides agreed to further deepen practical cooperation on sustainable development in the Arctic.

The two sides will strengthen cooperation in multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, promote the international community to place development in an important position in global macro-policy coordination, call on developed countries to earnestly fulfill their official development assistance obligations, provide more resources for developing countries, solve problems such as imbalances in development between and within countries, and promote global development and international development cooperation. The Russian side reiterated its willingness to continue to carry out relevant work on promoting the global development initiative proposed by China, including participating in the activities of the "Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative" of the United Nations platform. The two sides called on the international community to take poverty reduction, food security, anti-epidemic and vaccines, financing for development, climate change, green and sustainable development, industrialization, digital economy, and connectivity as key areas of cooperation, take pragmatic actions, and accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The two sides called on the international community to create an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for scientific and technological development, accelerate the transformation of scientific and technological achievements into real productive forces, and tap new momentum for economic growth.

The two sides called on all countries to strengthen cooperation in the field of sustainable transport, actively carry out transport capacity building and knowledge exchange, including intelligent transportation, sustainable transport, and the development and operation of Arctic shipping routes, etc., to help the global recovery after the epidemic.

The two sides have made important contributions to the strong measures taken to address climate change. The two sides jointly commemorated the 30th anniversary of the conclusion of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, reaffirmed their commitment to the objectives, principles and provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement, in particular the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and worked together to promote the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement. The two sides will fulfill their respective commitments and look forward to the effective implementation of the US$100 billion per year climate financial support for developing countries in developing countries. The two sides oppose the erection of new barriers to international trade on the pretext of addressing climate change.

The two sides firmly promote international cooperation and exchanges on biodiversity, actively participate in the process of global biodiversity governance, and jointly promote the coordinated development of man and nature and green transformation, so as to contribute to global sustainable development.

The Heads of State of China and Russia affirmed the fruitful bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two sides in response to the global pandemic of COVID-19 and safeguarding the safety and health of the people of the two countries and the world. The two sides will continue to strengthen cooperation in the research and development and production of vaccines and covid-19 drugs, and deepen cooperation in the fields of public health and modern medicine. The two sides will strengthen the coordination and docking of epidemic prevention measures to provide a strong guarantee for the health, safety and orderly exchanges between the two countries. The two sides positively evaluated the work done by the relevant departments and localities of the two countries to ensure epidemic prevention and stable operation of ports in border areas, and will establish a joint prevention and control mechanism in border areas, coordinate and promote epidemic prevention and control, information sharing and infrastructure construction at border ports, and continuously improve the efficiency of customs clearance at ports.

The two sides stressed that the traceability of the new crown virus is a scientific issue, which should be carried out based on a global perspective and by global scientists, and oppose the politicization of the traceability issue. The Russian side welcomes the joint traceability study between China and WHO and supports the China-WHO joint traceability study. The two sides called on the international community to jointly safeguard the scientific and serious nature of traceability research.

The Russian side supports China's successful hosting of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The two sides spoke highly of the level of cooperation between the two countries in sports and the Olympic Games, and are willing to further promote the development of relevant cooperation.

Three

The two sides are deeply concerned about the severe challenges facing the international security situation and believe that the people of all countries share the same destiny, and no country can and should not achieve its own security at the expense of world security and the security of other countries. The international community should actively participate in global security governance and achieve common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.

The two sides reaffirmed each other's firm support for each other's core interests, national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and opposed interference by external forces in the internal affairs of the two countries.

The Russian side reaffirms its adherence to the one-China principle, recognizes that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and opposes any form of "Taiwan independence."

China and Russia oppose external forces undermining the security and stability of the two countries' common peripheral areas, oppose interference by external forces in the internal affairs of sovereign countries under any pretext, and oppose "color revolutions." They will strengthen cooperation in the above-mentioned fields.

The two sides condemn terrorism in all its forms, promote the establishment of a global counter-terrorism united front with the United Nations at the center of the international community, and strengthen policy coordination and constructive cooperation in the field of multilateral counter-terrorism. It opposes the politicization, instrumentalization and application of "double standards" on the issue of counter-terrorism, and condemns the use of terrorist and extremist organizations and interference in the internal affairs of other States in the name of combating international terrorism and extremism for geopolitical purposes.

The two sides believe that individual countries, military-political alliances or allies seek unilateral military superiority, directly or indirectly, undermine the security of other countries through unfair competition and other means, intensify geopolitical competition, play up antagonism and confrontation, seriously undermine the international security order and undermine global strategic stability. The two sides oppose NATO's continued expansion and call on NATO to abandon the ideology of the Cold War period, respect the sovereignty, security, interests, diversity of civilizations, historical and cultural diversity of other countries, and view the peaceful development of other countries objectively and fairly. The two sides oppose the establishment of a closed alliance system and create camp confrontation in the Asia-Pacific region, and are highly vigilant against the negative impact of the "Indo-Pacific Strategy" pursued by the United States on peace and stability in the region. China and Russia have always been committed to building an equal, open, inclusive, and non-targeting security system in the Asia-Pacific region that is not aimed at third countries, and to maintaining peace, stability and prosperity.

The two sides welcomed the issuance of the Joint Statement of the Leaders of the Five Nuclear-Weapon States on the Prevention of Nuclear War and the Avoidance of Arms Race, and held that all nuclear-weapon States should abandon the Cold War mentality and zero-sum game, reduce the role of nuclear weapons in national security policies, withdraw nuclear weapons deployed abroad, not allow the unlimited development of global anti-missile systems, and effectively reduce the risk of nuclear war and any military conflict between States with military nuclear forces.

The two sides reaffirmed that the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is the cornerstone of the international nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation regime, an important component part of the post-war international security system and an irreplaceable role in promoting world peace and development. The international community should advance the three pillars of the treaty in a balanced manner and jointly safeguard the authority, validity and universality of the treaty.

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.

Four

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

Source: Xinhua Net