2011: Milestone in China-Russia relations


China.org.cn, April 23, 2011

Editor's note:

Year 2011 is important to the development of Sino-Russian relations. The two countries will hold a series of high-level meetings and exchange of visits to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the "Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation," the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation and the 10th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Chinese Ambassador to Russia Li Hui accepted China.org.cn's interview and shared his views on the Sino-Russian relationship, the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The interview transcript follows:

China.org.cn: This year is the 10th anniversary of the "Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation." It also marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation. How do you view the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation? What celebrations will be held in Russia this year?

Li Hui: The year 2011 is an important year in the development of the Sino-Russian relations. The two countries will hold grand celebrations. During the last ten years, the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation has enjoyed a rapid, healthy and stable development, and has reached an unprecedented level. I want to say that the development has the following special characteristics:

(a) The mutual political trust between the two countries has been enhanced and high-level contact has been frequent. The mechanisms of the regular meetings of the heads of the state, speakers and the prime ministers as well as multi-level and wide-ranging consultation and dialogue have been established. Left-over border issues, which were a major obstacle for the bilateral relations, has been completely resolved. The two countries provide firm support to each other on core issues of mutual interest.

(b) The strategic cooperation between the two countries has been significantly enhanced. On major international and regional affairs, the two countries are in close contact with each other and act in coordinative cooperation. The two countries issued a "Joint declaration on a multi-polar world and the establishment of a new international order" and a "Joint declaration on international order in the 21st Century". The two countries have cooperated closely within the framework of multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, the Group of Twenty, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS Countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and Russia-China-India Cooperation Mechanism. The cooperation has effectively promoted the process of world multi-polarization and has played an important role for the maintenance of world peace, security and stability.

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