Xi Jinping, meeting Russian parliament leader, vows further Beijing-Moscow cooperation
- Remarks come during Monday session in Beijing with Valentina Matviyenko, chairwoman of the Federation Council, Russia’s upper legislative chamber
- ‘The social and public opinion base of friendship between the two countries has become stronger for generations,’ Xi is quoted as saying by CCTV
China will continue to deepen its partnership with Russia, President Xi Jinping told the speaker of the Russian parliament’s upper house in Beijing on Monday.
“To develop China-Russia relations is a strategic choice made by both countries based on the fundamental interests of their respective countries and peoples,” Xi was quoted by state broadcaster CCTV as saying to Valentina Matviyenko, chairwoman of the Federation Council.
“Thanks to the joint efforts of the two sides, China-Russia relations have maintained a healthy and stable momentum of development. Cooperation in various fields has been steadily advancing, and the social and public opinion base of friendship between the two countries has become stronger for generations.”
China is willing to continue to work with Russia to develop their comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation, “to promote the building of a prosperous, stable, fair and just world”, Xi added.
The meeting with Matviyenko, Russia’s third-ranking official, came just after a visit by United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who met a host of senior Chinese finance officials in Beijing – but not Xi – in her four-day trip.
According to a Reuters report, Russia’s Tass news agency quoted Matviyenko as saying that Russia would continue to cooperate with Beijing and could count on China’s “firm and reliable friendly shoulder”.
Matviyenko, council chairwoman since 2011, is Russia’s third-highest governmental official, behind only President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
China’s state media reports did not mention any discussions of the Ukraine war during the meeting.
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Matviyenko hailed the “highest level in history” of the Russia-China ties, saying that the Russian parliament widely supports the deepening of Russian-Chinese cooperation and is ready to further strengthen exchanges and dialogue with China’s National People’s Congress to provide legal guarantees for the implementation of the consensus of the two countries, CCTV reported.
China has significantly upgraded ties with Russia in recent years – announcing a “no limit” partnership last year – as its relations with the US have deteriorated.
Xi recalled his visit to Moscow in March, saying he reached an important agreement with Putin on deepening a comprehensive strategic partnership and practical cooperation in various fields between the two countries.
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Xi told Matviyenko that the legislatures of both countries should make laws to promote “a sustainable and healthy development of cooperation”.
He added that the two sides should also strengthen collaboration in multilateral organisations – such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the BRICS bloc – to lead the reform of global governance and safeguard the common interests of emerging markets and developing countries.
