Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Russian President Vladimir Putin at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 16, 2024. Picture: Xinhua
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that the progress in China-Russia relations is attributable to the two countries' commitment to the five principles of mutual respect, win-win cooperation, lasting friendship, strategic coordination, and fairness and justice.
President Xi made the remarks during a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, following their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Describing the talks as "sincere and cordial," Xi said they had a comprehensive review of the successful experience in developing the China-Russia relationship over the past 75 years since establishing diplomatic ties.
The China-Russia relationship has become a prime example of a new form of international relations as well as good-neighborly relations between two major countries, Xi told reporters.
President Xi said China and Russia are committed to mutual respect as the fundamental principle of relations and always render support for each other's core interests.
Xi said he and Putin agree that the key to the two countries finding a new path to growing relations between major and neighbouring countries lies in mutual respect and equality, as well as steadfast mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns.
"This is central to the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era," he said.
The two sides will uphold the principles of non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party, Xi added.
China and Russia will continue to deepen two-way political trust, respect each other's choice of development path, and realize development and revitalization with each other's firm support, he said.
China and Russia are committed to win-win cooperation as the driving force of relations and work to foster a new paradigm of mutual benefit, Xi said.
Last year, the two-way trade exceeded $240 billion, close to 2.7 times that of a decade ago, he noted. "This is a good indication of the all-round cooperation of mutual benefit that continues to deepen between the two countries."
Xi stressed that he and Putin agree that the two countries need to look for areas where their interests converge, tap into their comparative strengths, deepen the integration of interests and enable each other's success.
The two countries need to make further structural improvements to their cooperation, consolidate the good momentum in trade and other traditional areas of cooperation, support the formation of platforms and networks for basic research, continue to unlock cooperation potential in frontier areas, step up cooperation on ports, transportation and logistics, and help keep the global industrial and supply chains stable, he said.
President Xi said that China and Russia are committed to lasting friendship as the foundation of relations and carry forward the torch of Sino-Russian friendship.
Both China and Russia have a long history and a splendid culture, he said.
"The works of Pushkin and Tolstoy are household names in China, and Peking Opera and tai chi are much loved by the Russian people," said Xi.
By focusing on implementing the Roadmap for China-Russia Cooperation on People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges Before 2030, the two countries are expanding people-to-people and cultural ties, he said.
Xi and Putin have also set 2024 and 2025 as China-Russia Years of Culture.
The two sides have proposed a series of cultural activities that are down to earth, close to people's hearts and popular among them, and encouraged closer interactions between various sectors and at subnational levels, so as to enhance mutual understanding and affinity between the two peoples, Xi said.
China and Russia are committed to strategic coordination as an underpinning of relations and steering global governance in the right direction, President Xi stressed.
The two countries are firmly committed to safeguarding the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, he said.
Xi said China and Russia should stay in close coordination and collaboration on multilateral platforms such as the UN, APEC and G20, and advance multipolarity and economic globalization in the spirit of true multilateralism.
With Russia chairing BRICS this year and China taking over the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization later this year, the two sides will support each other's chairmanship, build a high-quality partnership that is more comprehensive, close, practical and inclusive, and build the unity and strength of the Global South, he said.
President Xi said China and Russia are committed to fairness and justice as the purpose of relations and dedicated to the political settlement of hotspots.
The Cold War mentality still exists, and unilateralism, hegemonism, bloc confrontation and power politics threaten world peace and the security of all countries, he said.
The two presidents are of the view that it is urgent to solve the Palestine-Israel conflict, he noted.
The UN resolutions must be earnestly implemented, and the question of Palestine must be solved on the basis of the two-state solution, said Xi.
The two sides believe that a political settlement is the right way forward for the Ukraine crisis.
China's position on the issue is consistent and clear, including observing the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, respecting the legitimate security concerns of all parties, and building a new security architecture that is balanced, effective and sustainable, Xi said.
"China hopes that peace and stability will return to the European continent at an early date and stands ready to play a constructive role to this end," he said.
On Thursday, the Chinese and Russian presidents also signed and issued the Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation on Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination for the New Era in the Context of the 75th Anniversary of China-Russia Diplomatic Relations.
The leaders also witnessed the signing of a number of intergovernmental and interagency cooperation documents.