Russian President Says Sino-Russian Relations at “Unprecedentedly High Level”

In an April 7 meeting in Moscow with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that relations between the two nations are at an “unprecedentedly high level. Their quality meets the demands of the day and our national interests,” he said, Kremlin.ru reported today. Sino-Chinese relations, he said, are a model of the type of cooperation needed in dealing with international affairs.

According to Global Times, Putin stated his support for China’s Silk Road Economic Belt initiative, which Wang Yi took further by proposing that China and Russia together explore the links between the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative and Russia’s idea of creating a cross-Eurasia passage to integrate Eurasian economies. This, he said, would create new platforms for cooperation.

Putin indicated that he’s very much looking forward to President Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow May 8, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, and more broadly, the war against fascism. Xi Jinping, Wang said, “greatly values the high level of trust and friendship between you,” adding that the two leaders have “achieved strategic leadership planned at the highest level for further promoting Sino-Russian relations.”

Over the past two years, the Russian and Chinese Presidents have signed 107 joint agreements on cooperation, 55 of which have already been implemented. Wang emphasized that he and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, are in constant contact, moving “along vectors indicated” by their respective Presidents, “in order to move our comprehensive strategic partnership and cooperation further into the future.” Wang emphasized that the 70th anniversary of end of World War II, and victory over Japanese militarism, provide unique opportunities, but that “we will also face many serious challenges with regard to achieving peace and the development of humanity.”