Russian-Chinese relations have achieved a high tempo of growth thanks to equality and mutual benefit, Sergei Razov, Russia's newly appointed ambassador to China, told Xinhua in a recent interview.  

Razov, who was deputy foreign minister before he was appointed by President Vladimir Putin earlier this month to succeed Igor Rogachev as ambassador to China, described current Russia-China ties as "at their best and still continuing to expand rapidly."

Ties between Russia and China can reach such a high level because they are based on equality and mutual benefit, and mutual interests are taken into account, Razov said.

"No topic is taboo between our two countries. We can have dialogue on any issue," said the new ambassador, adding the conclusion of 40-year-long border negotiations and the final agreement on border demarcation between the two countries was a testament to this openness in dialogue.

Russia and China have built a high-level meeting mechanism, in which the two countries' leaders meet at the summit level as well as other high levels every year. There have been great strides in bilateral economic cooperation, with bilateral trade hitting US$21 billion last year, Razov said. The leaders of both sides have decided to boost bilateral trade to US$60 billion by 2010, he said.

The strategic partnership between Russia and China is a major stabilizing force in maintaining regional and global stability, setting the path for the future development of bilateral relations, Razov said.

In strengthening cooperation, both sides need to take into account terrorism threats, regional conflicts, and attempts by certain countries to build a unipolar world, said the Russian ambassador.

A diplomat with past China experience, Razov views his mission on his new post as one that is to push forward the Russian-Chinese ties based on equality and mutual benefit, strengthen the friendship between the peoples of the two countries and boost bilateral cooperation and coordination in international affairs.

Serving as Russian ambassador to China "is a big honor, but at the same time means huge responsibilities," Razov said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2005)