BEIJING: President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said he is willing to work with Russian President Vladimir Putin to continue guiding bilateral relations towards a new height in the new year.
Speaking with Putin in a video meeting, Xi called for coping with uncertainties of the external environment with the stability and resilience of China-Russia relations, jointly promoting the development and revitalization of the two countries, and upholding international fairness and justice.
The two heads of state exchanged festive greetings for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year.
Xi recalled the three meetings he had with Putin last year, which led to a range of important common understandings. He also said last year marked the 75th anniversary of the China-Russia diplomatic relations, which feature permanent good-neighborly friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination and mutually beneficial cooperation, and have become increasingly dynamic. Xi also mentioned various activities held as part of the China-Russia Years of Culture, as well as steadily progressing pragmatic cooperation and growing bilateral trade.
The close coordination between the two countries on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations (UN), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS has provided more positive energy for the reform and development of the global governance system, Xi said. He called on the two sides to continue deepening strategic coordination, firming up mutual support, and safeguarding the legitimate interests of the two countries.
China and Russia should consolidate and expand bilateral relations and push for in-depth development of practical cooperation, Xi added.
He noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victories of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN.
China and Russia should take this as an opportunity to jointly defend the UN-centered international system and the outcomes of victory in World War II, promote all countries’ adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, uphold the universally recognized basic norms governing international relations, and practice true multilateralism, Xi stressed. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
