Xi Jinping and Putin strengthen alliance and pledge mutual support.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, spoke by telephone on Wednesday (8), pledging that the two countries will firmly support each other in defending sovereignty.
Xinhua - In a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted that at the end of June, Russia successfully held a military parade in Red Square to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, demonstrating to the world its firm determination to remember history and ensure peace.
Recently, Russia held a referendum and approved a set of constitutional amendments by a large majority of votes, Xi said, adding that this fully reflects the Russian people's support for the Russian government and their approval of its governance philosophy.
As always, China will firmly support Russia's development path that suits its own national conditions and will firmly support Russia in accelerating its development and revitalization, the Chinese president said.
Noting that the international situation is changing rapidly, Xi stressed that it is highly necessary for China and Russia, as comprehensive strategic partners, to strengthen strategic communication and cooperation.
He added that the Chinese side is willing to continue working with the Russian side in firm mutual support, reject external sabotage and intervention, properly preserve their respective sovereignties, security and development rights, and safeguard their common interests.
Xi highlighted that, during the most difficult moment in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, China and Russia supported and helped each other, which further enriched the strategic significance of their relations in the new era.
Given the relatively long period of dealing with the coronavirus epidemic, the two sides should explore flexible and diverse means to accelerate the resumption of work and production in all areas of bilateral cooperation, the Chinese president suggested.
He added that they should also seize the opportunity of the China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation to accelerate collaboration in areas such as advanced technology, vaccine and drug research and development, as well as biosecurity, in order to continuously elevate China-Russia ties to higher levels and boost their respective development for the benefit of both peoples.
Xi said that China is willing to work with Russia to continuously intensify coordination within the United Nations and other multilateral structures, safeguard multilateralism, oppose hegemonism and unilateralism, uphold international justice and equity, and make greater contributions to improving global governance and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
For his part, Putin said that the large majority of votes in favor of constitutional amendments in the recent referendum will help Russia maintain long-term political stability, better defend national sovereignty, and oppose foreign interference.
He added that Russia and China value their own national sovereignty and security and have stood firmly by each other at all times, as demonstrated once again by their mutual support during the difficult times of the pandemic and by the recent participation of the People's Liberation Army honor guard in Russia's Red Square parade.
Russia-China relations are at their best, Putin said, emphasizing that Russia firmly supports China's efforts to safeguard national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, opposes all kinds of provocative actions that violate China's sovereignty, and believes that China is fully capable of ensuring long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong.
Noting that Russia considers its relations with China a foreign policy priority, he said his country is willing to work with China to continuously promote practical bilateral cooperation in various fields, strengthen strategic communication and coordination under frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the United Nations, and safeguard global strategic stability and security.
Furthermore, the Russian president expressed solidarity regarding the floods and geological disasters in various parts of southern China, with Xi expressing his gratitude for this.