China will work with Russia on policy towards US, says ambassador to Moscow
- Zhang Hanhui tells Russian news agency Interfax that the two countries have a ‘special responsibility’ to maintain world peace and stability
- Joe Biden has pledged to take a tough stance towards Beijing and Moscow and is working to strengthen relations with US allies
China is willing to maintain regular communications with Russia about their policies towards the United States, the country’s ambassador to Moscow has said ahead of Joe Biden’s virtual summit with key allies in Asia and a high-level US visit to Japan and South Korea.
Zhang Hanhui also defended the military cooperation between the two countries, which he described as an “important pillar” of their relationship and an “important safeguard” in maintaining strategic balance of the world.
“Fifty years ago, the US and China opened the door to a relationship that had been closed for decades, and now, 50 years later, the United States should correct the mistakes it has made over time … and adopt a positive and constructive policy towards China,” Zhang told Interfax, a Russian news agency, according to a transcript published on the embassy’s website on Tuesday.
“As two major countries, China and Russia share broad common interests and shoulder special responsibilities in maintaining world peace and stability and promoting global development and prosperity,” Zhang wrote.
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“We are ready to maintain communication with the Russian side on our respective relations with the US to better safeguard the strategic and development interests of both countries.”
The latest comments by Zhang came as Beijing’s bitter rivalry with Washington continues. On Tuesday, the White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced that US President Joe Biden is to hold joint talks with the leaders of Australia, India and Japan on Friday in the latest effort to boost an emerging four-way coalition which is widely believed to have China as its primary target.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin are also going to travel to Japan and South Korea next week – the first international trip by members of Biden’s cabinet.
China and Russia have become increasingly close in recent years, with speculation about a formal alliance growing after Vladimir Putin said last year that he would not rule it out.
Zhang told Intefax the two countries would continue “high-level” cooperation on military technology, saying it reflects “the spirit of strategic mutual trust and strategic collaboration between the two countries”.
He also said Moscow and Beijing have made good progress on trade, vaccine development and even space exploration.
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Zhang said that the two countries would work together to “positively” expand imports of farm products from Russia. Last year, Russia became a net exporter of food for the first time since the end of the Soviet Union.
China and Russia have long presented a united front internationally on issues such as Iran, North Korea and Myanmar. In their latest coordinated effort at the United Nations they blocked a joint statement condemning the coup in Myanmar.
