China, Russia to cooperate closely in global affairs, says Xi
May 6, 2016, 5:24 am

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Sergei Naryshkin, head of the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, in Beijing, capital of China, May 5, 2016 [Xinhua]

The central task in China-Russia ties is to translate the high-level political relationship into more pragmatic cooperation and coordination in international affairs, Xi told visiting Sergei Naryshkin, head of the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament.

Even as the US continues with what it calls “freedom of navigation” exercises in the South China Sea, China has got support from Moscow on the dispute.

Attempts to internationalize the issue must be stopped, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said repeatedly in the last few weeks.

“I am convinced that they (attempts to internationalize the issue) are completely counterproductive,” said Lavrov. “Only negotiations, which China and the ASEAN are pursuing can bring the desired result, namely, mutually acceptable agreements.”

Despite a Chinese slowdown and prospects of a Russian recession, the two Presidents have witnessed the signing of an array of energy deals to boost economic ties between the two neighbours last year.

“The high-level development of the China-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination not only meets the needs of the two countries but also is in line with the global trend of peace, development and win-win cooperation,” Xi was quoted as saying by Chinese agency Xinhua on Thursday.

Last week, both countries expressed strong reservations at reports that the US military was soon to deployed advanced anti-missile weapons on the Korean Peninsula.

He called on the two sides “to lay a more solid social and public opinion foundation” for “the long-term healthy and stable growth of China-Russia relations”.

The president urged the legislative bodies of the two countries to enhance exchanges and mutual learning so as to enrich China-Russia ties.

Naryshkin has met top Chinese officials during his China visit that ends on Friday.

Both sides are pushing for the proposed integration of China’s ambitious Silk Road Economic Belt with that of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union.

Russia and China have set a bilateral trade target of $200 billion by 2020.

China is Russia’s biggest foreign trade partner, accounting for 11.3 per cent of Russia’s foreign trade in 2014. Russia is China’s ninth trade partner, with a share of 2.2 per cent in China’s foreign trade in 2014.

Russia has also taken over as China’s top oil supplier.

Putin will visit China later this summer.

Xi and Putin will also hold talks with their BRICS counterparts in October in the Indian state of Goa.

TBP and Agencies