2011: Milestone in China-Russia relations

China.org.cn, April 23, 2011

China.org.cn:

Li Hui: The friendly and cooperative relation between the Chinese Communist Party and the United Russia Party is an important part of Sino-Russia relations. The dialogue mechanism between the two parties is a regular means of communication over issues of common interest like international and regional situations, bilateral relations between the two parties and the two countries as well as the ruling parties' own internal structures. The dialogue is held once a year alternating between the two countries. The first meeting was held in Beijing in June 2009, and the second meeting in Moscow in March 2010. The third one is tentatively scheduled to be held in China in autumn. The meeting will focus on how to comprehensively strengthen friendly and cooperative relationship between the two parties.

China.org.cn: It has been more than one year since you were appointed Chinese Ambassador to Russia. During this period, you must have experienced the steady development of Sino-Russian relations and many problems to be faced. Can you talk about your feelings of this year as Ambassador to Russia?

Li Hui: I worked in the Chinese Embassy in the Soviet Union (Russia) twice during the 1980s and 1990s, and now is my third time to work here. Compared with the previous two experiences, in the past year I have felt most deeply that the Sino-Russian relations are at record-high level. I just want to give you a few examples: In the previous year, the leaders of both countries held a total of six meetings. President Hu Jintao made a special trip to Russia on invitation to attend the 65th anniversary celebration of the victory of Great Patriotic War. China-Russia bilateral trade has withstood the impact of the global financial crisis and trade volume has quickly recovered to pre-crisis levels. China has become Russia's second largest trading partner. The operation of China-Russia crude oil pipeline is beneficial in enhancing the cooperation between the two countries. The "language year" organized in both countries has set off a wave of Chinese and Russian language learning among the two peoples. People of the both countries are more willing to try to understand each other. The close collaborations between the two countries on major international and regional issues are remarkable and impressive.

China and Russia are geographically adjacent and economically complementary. Both countries are in a period of rapid economic and social development. There are broad prospects for pragmatic cooperation in economy, trade, investment, energy, finance, high technology and innovation areas, as well as great potential for cultural exchange and cooperation. At present, as we take the opportunity of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the "Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation" and the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation, China and Russia are taking effective measures to continuously consolidate the material foundation and social infrastructure of bilateral relations to promote the Sino-Russian relations to a higher level.

(This article was written in Chinese and translated by Li Huiru.)

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