China-Russia ties have greatest global influence ever-Xi
February 10, 2014, 4:02 am

Xi had attended Friday’s opening ceremony of the 22nd Winter Olympic Games at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin [Xinhua]

In his latest meeting with Putin, Xi said the two sides agreed to “unswervingly support each other on issues concerning their core interests and turn political advantages in their relations into cooperation advantages”.

Xi was speaking to Russian broadcaster Rossiya TV this weekend.

Xi had attended Friday’s opening ceremony of the 22nd Winter Olympic Games at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Moscow was also his first foreign destination after taking over as China’s President in March last year.

“I am very satisfied with the achievements in the development of China-Russia relations,” Xi said adding the relationship has the “highest level of mutual trust and the greatest regional and global influence ever”.

The Sochi trip has marked a “good start” for the advancement of bilateral ties in 2014, added the president. This was the first time a Chinese head of state attended an opening ceremony of a major sports event held outside China.

“The cities of Beijing and Zhangjiakou are bidding to host the 2022 Winter Games, so we are here to learn from the Russian people,” said Xi.

During the interview Xi also asserted stronger coordination between the two countries is helping “safeguard international justice, stability and peace”.

Russia and China, both permanent members of the UNSC, coordinated successfully to prevent a US-led military strike in Syria. Both have vetoed three UN resolutions that sought to condemn the Syrian government for the civil war in the country.

Russia has also mediated between Iran and world powers to reach a nuclear agreement last year with key support from Beijing.

In 2013, Xi and Putin have overseen enormous Sino-Russian joint ventures including a massive oil deal with state-run Rosneft, Russia’s largest oil company striking agreements to almost triple oil supplies to China in coming years from the around 300,000 barrels per day (15 million tonnes a year) it ships there currently.

TBP and Agencies