(AGENPARL) - Roma, 19 Marzo 2023(AGENPARL) – MOSCOW dom 19 marzo 2023
I am glad to seize this opportunity to address the friendly Chinese people in one of the largest and most authoritative world media
in advance of the state visit of President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping to Russia. This landmark event
reaffirms the special nature of the Russia-China partnership, which has always
been built on mutual trust, respect for each other’s sovereignty and interests.
We have high expectations for the upcoming talks. We
have no doubt that they will give a new powerful impetus to our bilateral
cooperation in its entirety. This is also a great opportunity for me to meet
with my good old friend with whom we enjoy the warmest relationship.
I made acquaintance with Comrade Xi Jinping in March
2010 when he visited Moscow
as head of a high-level Chinese delegation. Our first meeting was held in a very business-like and at the same time sincere and friendly atmosphere. I really like this style of communication. I know that people in China
attach great importance to friendship and personal relationships. It is no
coincidence that Confucius the Sage said: ”Is it not a joy to have friends
coming from afar!“ In Russia
we share this value and hold real friends for brothers. Our two peoples have
very much in common here.
Three years later, about the same days in March, we
met again in the capital of Russia.
It was Xi Jinping’s first state visit to our country after his election as President of the People’s Republic of China. The summit set the tone and dynamics of Russia-China relations for many years to come, became clear
evidence of the special nature of relations between Russia
and China,
and outlined the trajectory for their accelerated and sustainable development.
Since then, a decade has passed, which is but a fleeting moment in the history of our countries sharing a centuries-old
tradition of good neighbourliness and cooperation. During this time, the world
has seen many changes, often not for the better. Yet the main thing has
remained unchanged: I am talking of the firm friendship between Russia and China, which is consistently
growing stronger for the benefit and in the interest of our countries and peoples.
The progress made in the development of bilateral ties is impressive. The Russia-China relations have reached the highest level in their history and are
gaining even more strength; they surpass Cold War-time military-political
alliances in their quality, with no one to constantly order and no one to constantly obey, without limitations or taboos. We have reached an unprecedented level of trust in our political dialogue, our strategic
cooperation has become truly comprehensive in nature and is standing on the brink of a new era. President Xi Jinping and I have met about
40 times and have always found time and opportunity to talk in a variety
of official formats as well as at no?tie events.
Our priorities include trade and economic partnership.
In 2022, our bilateral trade, which had already been considerable by the time,
doubled to reach USD 185 billion. This is a new record. What is more, we
have every reason to believe that the USD 200 billion target, which was set by President Xi Jinping and myself, will be exceeded as early as this year
instead of 2024. It is noteworthy that the share of settlements in national
currencies in our mutual trade is growing, further strengthening the sovereignty of our relations.
Long-term joint plans and programs are being
successfully implemented. It will be no exaggeration to say that the Power of Siberia Russian-Chinese gas pipeline has become the ”deal of the century“ for its scale. The supplies of Russian oil and coal have
increased significantly. Our specialists are involved in building new nuclear
power units in China,
while Chinese companies actively engage in LNG projects; our industrial and agricultural cooperation is growing stronger. Together we explore outer space
and develop new technologies.
Russia and China are powers with ancient and unique traditions and an enormous cultural heritage. Now that all
pandemic-related restrictions on mutual contacts have been lifted, it is
important that we increase humanitarian and tourist exchanges as soon as possible, thereby strengthening the social basis of the Russian-Chinese
partnership. Interstate thematic years have a special role to play in this
context. For example, the 2022/2023 biennium is dedicated to cooperation in the field of physical culture and sports, which is very popular among our citizens.
Unlike some countries claiming hegemony and bringing
discord to the global harmony, Russia
and China
are literally and figuratively building bridges. Last year our border regions
were connected by two new bridge crossings over the Amur river, which has been a ”river of friendship“ since time
immemorial. Amidst the ”waves and winds“ that sweep the planet, we
closely cooperate in international affairs and effectively coordinate our
foreign policy positions, counter common threats, and respond to current
challenges, standing shoulder to shoulder as a ”rock amid a fast flowing
stream.“ We actively promote democratic multilateral structures such as the SCO
The Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation is a permanent inter-governmental international organisation. Its
establishment was announced on June 15, 2001 in Shanghai, China. SCO members
include China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
“> and BRICS
isan international association of fife countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Initially, the BRIC Group was formed by four of the world’s fastest-growing economies – Brazil, Russia, India, and China. In December 2010 South Africa joined the BRIC Group.
“> , which become more and more authoritative and influential and attract new partners and friends. The work aimed at coordinating the development of the Eurasian Economic Union
The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is an international organisation of regional economic integration. The EAEU Agreement came into effect on January 1, 2015. Its member states are the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Russian Federation. The EAEU ensures the free movement of goods, services, capital and labour and conducts a coordinated, aligned or common economic policy.
“> with the One Belt, One Road
Initiative also goes in this vein.
Our
countries, together with like-minded actors, have consistently advocated the shaping of a more just multipolar world order based on international law rather
than certain ”rules“ serving the needs of the ”golden
billion.“ Russia and China
have consistently worked to create an equitable, open and inclusive regional
and global security system that is not directed against third countries. In this regard, we note the constructive role of China’s Global Security Initiative,
which is in line with the Russian approaches in this area.
We
can feel the geopolitical landscape in the outside world change dramatically.
Sticking more stubbornly than ever to its obsolete dogmata and vanishing
dominance, the ”Collective West“ is gambling on the fates of entire
states and peoples. The US’s
policy of simultaneously deterring Russia
and China,
as well as all those who do not bend to the American dictation, is getting ever
more fierce and aggressive. The international security and cooperation
architecture is being dismantled. Russia
has been labelled an ”immediate threat“ and China a ”strategic competitor.“
We
appreciate the well-balanced stance on the events in Ukraine adopted by the PRC, as well
as its understanding of their historical background and root causes. We welcome
China’s
readiness to make a meaningful contribution to the settlement of the crisis.
Like our friends in China,
we advocate for the strict compliance with the UN Charter, respect for the norms of international law, including humanitarian law. We are committed to the principle of the indivisibility of security, which is being grossly violated by the NATO bloc. We are deeply concerned over the irresponsible and outright
dangerous actions that jeopardize nuclear security. We reject illegitimate
unilateral sanctions, which must be lifted.
Russia is open to the political and diplomatic resolution of the Ukraine
crisis. It was not Russia
who broke off the peace talks back in April 2022. The future of the peace
process depends solely on the will to engage in a meaningful discussion taking
into account current geopolitical realities. Unfortunately, the ultimatum
nature of requirements placed on Russia shows that their authors are
detached from these realities and lack interest in finding a solution to the situation.
The crisis in Ukraine,
which was provoked and is being diligently fuelled by the West, is the most
striking, yet not the only, manifestation of its desire to retain its
international dominance and preserve the unipolar world order. It is crystal
clear that NATO is striving for a global reach of activities and seeking to penetrate the Asia-Pacific. It obvious that there are forces persistently
working to split the common Eurasian space into a network of ”exclusive
clubs“ and military blocs that would serve to contain our countries’
development and harm their interests. This won’t work.
In fact, today, the Russia-China relations serve as the cornerstone of regional
and global stability, driving the economic growth and securing the positive
agenda in international affairs. They provide an example of harmonious and constructive cooperation between major powers.
I am convinced that our friendship
and partnership based on the strategic choice of the peoples of the two
countries will further grow and gain strength for the well-being and prosperity
of Russia and China.
This visit of the President of the PRC to Russia will undoubtedly contribute
to that.
Fonte/Source: http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/70743