Chinese President Xi Jinping said at a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Wednesday that China is ready to “maintain strong mutual support for Russia” on issues related to the two countries’ “fundamental interests”.
“China stands ready to continue to provide strong mutual support to Russia in matters pertaining to the respective fundamental interests of the two countries,” Xi said in a statement from China’s foreign ministry.
Xi Jinping also called on Moscow to “continue to enrich the strategic partnership that unites the two countries” and “take cooperation in various fields to the next level.”
“We also need to strengthen our cooperation in various fields through the United Nations, the BRICS [bloco que integra cinco economias emergentes – Brasil, Rússia, Índia, China e África do Sul]the Shanghai Cooperation Organization or the G20 [as 19 maiores economias do mundo mais a União Europeia]”, added the Chinese leader.
Xi pointed out that both sides should “improve the level of trade and investment cooperation” and “expand cooperation in the energy and connectivity sectors”, as well as “create new growth points”.
The Chinese official also stated that he intends to “continue strengthening cultural exchanges” and assured that “China is seeking to cooperate with Russia and the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union to promote a more open regional market and improve the functioning of supply chains”.
Mishustin, in turn, indicated that Moscow “wants to vigorously implement the important consensus reached by the heads of state of both countries” and to “hold more regular meetings, with the aim of promoting cooperation on a practical level”.
“Russia is ready to work with China to promote multipolar international relations and to consolidate an international order based on international law”said the Russian prime minister, according to a statement from Chinese diplomacy.
Mishustin is the highest-ranking Russian representative to visit China since the invasion of Ukraine began, a subject not mentioned in the official note of Chinese diplomacy.
China has said it is neutral in the conflict in Ukraine and wants to play a mediating role, but maintains a “borderless” relationship with Russia and blames NATO expansion for the conflict.
Trade between China and Russia increased by 34.3% last year, allowing Moscow to ease the effects of sanctions imposed by the West after the Russian military offensive on Ukrainian territory.
Beijing released a peace plan last February that was widely rejected by Ukraine’s allies, who insist that Russian troops must first withdraw from Ukrainian territory.
Just a week before the start of the war in Ukraine, Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, declared a “borderless” friendship in Beijing.
The Russian military offensive on Ukrainian territory, launched on February 24 last year, plunged Europe into what is considered the most serious security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
Source: DN
