Xi-Putin to assert united front at APEC
November 7, 2014, 8:34 am

“The TPP is just another U.S. attempt to build an architecture of regional economic cooperation that the USA would benefit from,” said Putin ahead of the APEC Summit [PPIO]

“We are well aware that such collaboration is extremely important both for Russia and China. We take similar or even identical stands on major global and regional issues on the international agenda. The Russian-Chinese relations have become a crucial factor in accommodating the foreign policy interests of the two countries in the 21st century, playing a significant role in establishing a just, harmonious and safe world order,” said Putin on Thursday ahead of his Beijing visit.

Andrey Denisov, Russian envoy to China said the two Presidentswill “synchronize time” – referring to coordinating their positions – on Russia-China relations, international affairs and the APEC meetings.

Russia attaches great importance to the strategic Asia Pacific region, Denisov told China’s state media ahead of Putin’s arrival.

He said “more actively taking part in regional economic cooperation to create favorable conditions for the social and economic development of Russia, particularly east Russia,” is the country’s strategic goal in the region.

Earlier on Thursday, Putin lauded APEC’s role in maintaining stability in the region.

“When some countries prefer to act on the international arena using the methods of political, economic and often even coercive pressure the role of APEC as an effective coordinating mechanism for building a new regional architecture is indispensable,” Putin said referring to US and EU sanctions on Moscow for the Ukraine crisis.

China is pressing for an “APEC information exchange” for free trade areas to increase transparency among the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) members and the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) members.

Ahead of the APEC Summit, host China has announced major economic projects for the region including the rebuilding of the Silk Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and the crucial Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank. During the APEC Summit, Beijing will continue negotiations with countries like Australia Indonesia and South Korea, notable absentees from the list of nations who signed up for the China-led Bank.

A Bloomberg report quoted Chinese plans of a $16.3 billion fund for infrastructure projects linking China’s markets to three continents in its bid to revive the centuries-old Silk Road trading route.

Meanwhile the Russian envoy to China said on Friday that Beijing’s development drive in western China mirrors Russian efforts in the east.

“It would be a great boost to east Russia’s development if China’s business community can actively participate in investment projects in Siberia and the far east,” Denisov said.

Russia will also push for aligning the reincarnation of a China-led Silk Road Economic Belt and the Eurasia transport and logistics passageway being built by Russia, asserted the Russian envoy on Friday.

Putin, had earlier this year, proposed aligning China’s Silk Route revival project with Russian plans for a trans-Siberian railway.

“We see great potential in the idea of developing a common SCO transport system that would make use too of Russia’s Trans-Siberian Railway and Baikal-Amur Mainline and be tied into China’s plans for developing the Silk Road route. I am sure that big projects of this kind serve the interests of our organisation’s members and would benefit all countries in Eurasia,” said Putin.

Moscow will also support China’s push for a roadmap on the massive free trade treaty: Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) during the APEC meet. Beijing plans to counter US’ progress in forming a Trans-Pacific Partnership that excludes China by an alternate mega Free Trade Agreement in the Asia Pacific.

“Obviously, the Trans-Pacific Partnership is just another U.S. attempt to build an architecture of regional economic cooperation that the USA would benefit from. At the same time, I believe that the absence of two major regional players such as Russia and China in its composition will not promote the establishment of effective trade and economic cooperation,” said Putin on Thursday in Moscow.

“The multilateral system of economic relations in the APR can only be strong if the interests of all states of the region are taken into account. This approach is reflected in the draft of the Beijing road map for the establishment of an Asia-Pacific free trade area. The draft is to be discussed at the forthcoming meeting of APEC leaders,” he added

TBP and Agencies