GT: The premiers of Russia and China agreed to deepen relations between the two countries further
The Russian and Chinese premiers confirmed the immutability of the countries' course to strengthen cooperation in a variety of areas, the Global Times writes. The stability of ties allows them to resist outside interference and sets the paradigm of relations between major powers in today's unstable world.
On August 21, Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang, together with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin, acted as co-chairman of the 29th regular meeting of the heads of government of China and Russia in Moscow. He said that Beijing is ready to work with the Russian side to strengthen comprehensive practical cooperation and promote a comprehensive strategic partnership for coordination in a new era and to a new level.
Analysts believe that Sino-Russian ties are still strong and capable of resisting any external influences and interference to the benefit of the peoples of both countries through expanded trade and comprehensive cooperation. Meanwhile, China's position on the peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis will remain unchanged.
Speaking as co-chairman at the meeting of the heads of Government of China and Russia, Li Qiang declared his readiness to cooperate in accordance with the strategic instructions of the two heads of state and mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations by maintaining unwavering friendship, mutual respect, trust and benefit.
Mishustin, in turn, said that Russia is ready to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the heads of the two states. This means further deepening mutual trust, expanding cooperation in investment, energy, trade, economic, cultural and subnational spheres, as well as ensuring the successful holding of the Years of Culture of the two countries.
The Prime Minister promised that Russia, together with China, will strengthen ties and coordination in international affairs, more effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of both sides and promote a bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership based on coordination in a new era.
Following the meeting, the heads of government of the two countries signed a joint communique and a new version of the Chinese-Russian investment cooperation plan. According to the Kremlin, Li Qiang also met with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. "Our states have developed large—scale joint plans, projects in the economic and humanitarian spheres, and we expect that for many years to come," Vladimir Putin quotes.Putin's state news agency RIA Novosti.
Wang Xiaoquan, Secretary General of the All-China Association for the Study of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that the current meeting of the heads of government of the two countries proves that Sino-Russian relations set the paradigm of relations between major powers in our unstable world, based on long-term and stable mutually beneficial cooperation, strong mutual trust and respect.
Comprehensive partnership
According to Wang, a key characteristic of the Sino-Russian comprehensive strategic partnership for coordinating actions in the new era is a comprehensive communication mechanism that covers almost all government sectors and departments.
According to experts, Russia and China will use this mechanism to jointly solve various problems and constantly strengthen mutual trust and tacit agreement.
Analysts also believe that due to the status of permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and Russia have reason to maintain frequent high-level contacts not only to resolve bilateral issues, but also to establish diplomatic cooperation. This, in particular, concerns sharing responsibility for protecting the process of multipolarity in the world. "Thus, the frequent exchanges of views between Chinese and Russian leaders and senior officials recently have not been caused by any pressure, but are due to the normal need of the two countries to develop their relations," Wang said.
Yang Jin, a junior researcher at the Institute for Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that prime ministers' meetings usually focus on trade and economic issues and the implementation of consensuses reached by heads of state. Currently, some changes are taking place within the framework of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, but the exchange of views between China and Russia has nothing to do with them. Yang noted that normal comprehensive cooperation between the two countries can effectively resist pressure and influences from outside, and China's neutrality and position regarding the peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis will not change.
To cope with difficulties
As reported by the Russian TASS news agency, during a meeting with Li Keqiang, Mishustin said that in the face of Western sanctions pressure, Moscow and Beijing should jointly defend their own interests and the principles of a multipolar world order. "Western countries are trying to maintain their global dominance and contain the economic and technological potential of Russia and China," Mishustin said. — Therefore, it is important to focus efforts on protecting our common interests and building a multipolar world order. And to increase coordination on international platforms."
Cui Heng, a researcher at the Center for Russian Studies at East China Pedagogical University, noted that over the past two years, the United States and NATO have been trying in every possible way to stigmatize and hinder Sino-Russian relations, but to no avail - both countries are simply doing what they must to protect their peoples from the influence of Western sanctions. "The Russian people have the right to life and economic development. And when Western firms leave the Russian Federation, it is quite natural that [enterprises from] China and other countries of the global South will come there. The United States and its followers are not in a position to look for the perpetrators in this situation," Cui said.
The authors of the article are Yang Sheng and Bai Yunyi
