By Kashif Rizwan
March 22, 2023
Islamabad(Special Report) In a major breakthrough, Russia has expressed willingness for political settlement of the Ukraine issue, telling that Moscow is open to talks for peace and welcomes China to play a constructive role in this regard.
This is what Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated while welcoming China’s President Xi Jinping at the Kremlin on his arrival in Moscow.
“Russia appreciates China for consistently upholding an impartial, objective, and balanced position and standing for fairness and justice on major international issues,” Vladimir Putin said, adding that the two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine issue. He said, “Russian welcomes China’s willingness to play a positive role for the political and diplomatic settlement of the Ukraine crisis and hails China’s constructive role in the political settlement of Ukraine crisis.”
Putin said that in the past ten years China made impressive and great achievements in all areas of development. He was confident that under President Xi’s strong leadership, China will definitely continue to develop and prosper and successfully realize all the great goals that have been set.
He said Russia stands ready to continue to deepen bilateral practical cooperation, step up communication and collaboration in international affairs, and promote world multi-polarity and greater democracy in international relations.
President Xi stressed that, on the Ukraine issue, voices for peace and rationality are building as most of the countries support easing tensions, stand for peace talks as a review of history shows that conflicts in the end have to be settled through dialogue and negotiation.
China released a document on its position on the Ukraine crisis, advocating the political settlement of the crisis and rejecting the Cold War mentality and unilateral sanctions. “China believes that the more difficulties there are, the greater the need to keep space for peace. The more acute the problem is, the more important it is not to give up efforts for dialogue,” President Xi Jinping said, adding that China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting the political settlement of the Ukraine issue.
President Xi stressed that there is a profound historical logic for China-Russia relationship to reach where it is today. China and Russia are each other’s biggest neighbour and comprehensive strategic partner of coordination. Both countries see their relationship as a high priority in their overall diplomacy and policy on external affairs. China always upholds an independent foreign policy. “To consolidate and develop well China-Russia relations is a strategic choice China has made on the basis of its own fundamental interests and the prevailing trends of the world. China is firm in keeping to the general direction of strengthening strategic coordination with Russia,” President Xi maintained.
He said China and Russia are committed to realizing national development and rejuvenation, support world multi-polarity and work for greater democracy in international relations. The two countries would further deepen practical cooperation in various fields and strengthen coordination and collaboration on multilateral platforms such as the UN to boost their respective national development and rejuvenation, and be a bulwark for world peace and stability.
The two presidents also vowed to look forward to formal talks to draw up a new blueprint for China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the years to come. They also called upon the international community to provide support to the relevant constructive efforts. The two sides agreed to stopping all moves that lead to tensions and the protraction of fighting to prevent the crisis from getting worse or even out of control. The two sides oppose any unilateral sanctions unauthorized by the UN Security Council.
China ready to implement Agreement on Economic and Trade Cooperation
In his meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin at the Russian Federation Government House, President Xi Jinping said that China attaches high importance to seeking synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). “China is ready to work with Russia and other EAEU member states to fully implement the Agreement on Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and the EAEU and deepen regional cooperation at a higher level.” President Xi said.
President Xi Jinping said that sustained and steady growth of bilateral ties is consistent with the historical logic for our relationship and the fundamental interests of our peoples. He said the new Chinese government values the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination and stands ready to work with the Russian side through institutionalized exchange channels such as the mechanism of regular meetings between the Chinese premier and the Russian prime minister to reach new goals and achieve fresh outcomes in bilateral cooperation.
President Xi Jinping said that China has remained Russia’s largest trading partner for 13 years in a row. “Our energy cooperation has continuously deepened, solid progress has been made on strategic major projects, and increasing people-to-people, cultural and sub-national exchanges have brought us even closer. It is important that both sides work together to scale up and improve the quality of our economic and trade cooperation, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and keep industrial and supply chains secure and stable.”
Prime Minister Mishustin said that growth of Russia-China relations is at the highest level in history, which is conducive to better upholding multilateralism and promoting a multi-polar
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