Russia, China Share Position on Creation of Multipolar World, Putin Says
© Sputnik . Vladimir Astapkovich
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STRELNA (Sputnik) - In February 2022, Chinese President Xi paid an official visit to Russia and unveiled a new target to raise trade turnover between the two states by an annual $250 billion.
Russia and China share the position on the creation of a multipolar world, this was confirmed by the last visit of Chinese Leader Xi Jinping to Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.
"It [the visit] gave a good impetus to the development of bilateral ties. This concerns international affairs. We are speaking here from a unified position of forming a multipolar world, and not a world based on some rules that no one has seen, which change every day in accordance with the external factors for the benefit of those who came up with this ridiculous formula," Putin said at a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Commenting on the last Xi's visit to Russia, Putin highlighted that "it took place immediately after the election of his Chinese counterpart as President of the People's Republic of China," which is a "sign of trust and a high level of the two countries relations."
"I must say that this visit was a success. We see this by the results of our interaction," Putin added.
The Russian leader also expressed hope that during his current visit to St. Petersburg, Yi will be able to see the city, admire its beauty and historical values.
Speaking about the plans for Russia-China cooperation, Putin noted that there is every reason to hope that the trade turnover between the two countries will reach $200 billion.
"We recently stated at a meeting with Xi, with whom I met on the sidelines of the International Economic Far Eastern Forum, that in the first months of this year, the trade turnover exceeded $120 billion. And we have every reason to hope that we will at least get closer to 200 billion," he said.
Moreover, the Russian leader underscored the successful cooperation between the states in the field of sports and the humanitarian sphere.
By the end of 2022, the trade turnover between Russia and China increased by 29.3% and amounted to a record $190 billion. The leaders of Russia and China have previously set a task to double the trade turnover between the two countries, to bring it from $100 billion a year in 2018 to $200 billion by 2024.
19 September 2023, 12:08
In addition, Russia and China bear special responsibility for the state of affairs in the world in the current conditions, when there is an accelerated movement towards multipolarity, member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Yi said, assuring that Beijing intends to continue and expand cooperation with Moscow.
"The modern world is experiencing tectonic shifts in the face of a changing, turbulent international situation, the formation of world multipolarity is accelerating, there is a trend towards anti-globalisation.," Yi stated.
According to him, "Russia and China, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, strive for peace and development."
"We have an important responsibility on our shoulders," the minister noted.
Moreover, the Chinese minister told the Russian leader that "a number of important agreements" were reached during the meeting with the Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev as well as during negotiations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
"No matter how the international situation changes, China is ready <...> to continue to strengthen mutual trust and business cooperation, strengthen coordination in the international arena, jointly protect our common interests, promote international justice with Russia," Yi stressed.
On Tuesday, Yi met with Patrushev to discuss the issues of strategic security, prior to that the Chinese minister held talks with Lavrov, as a result of which the foreign ministers declared the closeness of the positions of the parties regarding the actions of the United States in the international arena.
Furthermore, the Chinese minister conveyed "sincere greetings and good wishes"to Putin from Xi. He noted that at the meeting he is ready to discuss plans for the participation of the head of the Russian state in the "One Belt, One Road" forum, which will be held in China in October.
Putin said he was pleased to accept Xi Jinping's offer to visit China in October to participate in the forum.
"Of course, I was pleased to accept the invitation of the Xi Jinping's to visit China in October this year as part of an event to promote the idea of the Chairman [China], which already has such an international brand - "One Belt, One Road," he said at a meeting with Yi.
The Russian leader stressed that this fully corresponds to the interests of Russia and China, "integrates ideas of creating a large Eurasian space," adding that the countries are "acting quite synchronously" on the matter.
The "One Belt, One Road" initiative was put forward by Xi Jinping in 2013, it symbolically recreates the ancient Silk Road. Its goal is China's entry into the markets of Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and other regions, as well as the activation of international trade and investment projects with the participation of more countries and the use of the capital of interested states. More than 150 countries and international organizations have already joined the initiative.
