China hails ‘best ever’ relations with Russia 

The strategic visions of the neighbors closely coincide, according to Beijing’s foreign minister

Relations between Russia and China have reached their strongest-ever level, Beijing’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, has said. Wednesday marked the 75th anniversary of formal diplomatic ties between the two neighbors. 

According to Wang’s piece in the People’s Daily newspaper devoted to the anniversary, comprehensive strategic coordination and mutually beneficial cooperation have become a major pillar for ties with Russia.

“We have a strong position on the basic norms of international relations, we have a clear position on such issues as opposition to hegemony and policy of force, opposition to illegal unilateral sanctions and ‘long-arm jurisdiction’ as well as opposition to interference in the internal affairs of sovereign countries,” Wang said.

The minister emphasized the importance of Moscow and Beijing’s joint efforts to support the development of the Global South, promote the growth and influence of the BRICS group and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and to cooperate with the G20 and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

“Regardless of how the international situation may change, the essence of non-aligned, non-confrontational nature of Chinese-Russian relations that are not targeting third countries will not change,” Wang said. Ties are based on mutual respect, equal treatment, and mutually beneficial cooperation, he added. 

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The diplomat noted that trade and economic ties between the two nations have been strengthening. He highlighted that the amount of agricultural and food products imported from Russia has been increasing, while Chinese cars and smartphones are becoming more popular in Russia.

The nations are now cooperating in new areas, including scientific and technological innovation, automobile manufacturing, cross-border e-commerce, and medical devices, Wang said. He also mentioned the successful launch of flagship infrastructure projects such as the Power of Siberia gas pipeline, the highway bridge connecting the Russian city of Blagoveshchensk and China’s Heihe, as well as the railway overpass between the Chinese province of Heilongjiang and Russia’s Far East.

The foreign minister stressed that cooperation on China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the creation of the Eurasian Economic Union has already produced its first results.