BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a joint statement, officially deciding to extend the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.
The announcement came during talks between the two heads of state via video link.
Hailing the upcoming 20th anniversary of the signing of the treaty, Xi said in Beijing that the treaty has established the idea of enduring friendship, which conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries as well as the themes of peace and development.
The treaty is a vivid example of fostering a new type of international relations and building a community with a shared future for humanity, he said.
Putin said the treaty demonstrates the willingness of enduring friendship between the two peoples. The relevant principles and spirit established by the treaty have played an important and unique role in the long-term and sound development of Russia-China relations.
“Russia is satisfied with the unprecedented high level of current China-Russia ties as well as comprehensive and steady development of bilateral cooperation,” he said.
The treaty extension will lay a more solid foundation for the long-term bilateral ties development, Putin said.
“On the treaty’s basis, China-Russia relations have developed rapidly in various fields, covering politics, the economy, and culture over the past 20 years. The relationship between the two countries has also upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era,” said Li Ziguo, director of the Department for European-Central Asian Studies of the China Institute of International Studies.
–The Daily Mail-CGTN
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