President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping (retranslated): President Putin,
Friends, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. I am happy to meet with you together with my great friend President Putin.
It is China that President Putin is making his first state visit to during his new presidential term. This demonstrates Russia’s close attention to the development of China-Russia relations.
This afternoon, Mr Putin and I held our first meeting this year. We exchanged views on the consolidation and deepening of China-Russia relations under today’s conditions, and the promotion of multi-faceted cooperation and reached important agreements.
We signed and made public a joint statement by the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation. We signed a number of important cooperation agreements between our ministries, departments and enterprises.
I can say that this visit by President Putin to China has been crowned with important results and has given a powerful impetus to the development of bilateral relations.
President Putin and I agree that our comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation is fairly mature, stable and strong. It is distinguished among relations between great powers by its high level, rich content and highly important strategic significance.
Both sides value the achievements of bilateral relations, reaffirming their readiness to continue strengthening their resolve and take more practical steps in the spirit of centuries-old friendship and strategic cooperation to further expand and deepen the multi-faceted cooperation and produce new results in bilateral relations in the new era.
China has the world’s largest population and Russia has the world’s largest territory. As neighbours we have a huge advantage and internal impetus for cooperation in all areas.
We are pleased to note that through our common efforts Chinese-Russian cooperation maintains a quick dynamic, that the material foundations of our bilateral relations are growing stronger and that the merging of our interests is deepening.
In the first four months of this year, our trade amounted to $31.2 billion, which is an increase of 27.3 percent over the corresponding period of last year. China remains Russia’s biggest trade partner.
The trade structure of our countries is substantially improving. Major strategic projects in the investment, energy, transport, infrastructure, aviation and aerospace areas are making rapid headway.
New points of growth are appearing in science and technology, as well as in agriculture and e-commerce.
We share the view that trade protectionism is increasing. There are quite a few factors of instability and uncertainty in the world economy.
Economic globalisation and regional economic integration are an irreversible trend. In these conditions Russia and China are actively developing the One Belt, One Road joint project and have achieved tangible interim results. China and the EAEU have signed an agreement on trade and economic cooperation.
The related agencies of the two countries have signed joint statements on the completion of the feasibility study and the agreement on the Eurasian economic partnership and a memorandum of understanding on e-commerce cooperation.
China, Russia and other countries in our region are forming a new architectonics of cooperation on the basis of joint coordination, joint construction and joint use. We are willing to share the opportunities from our development with other countries, and give an impetus to the development of our national economies that will make a big contribution to the prosperity of our region and the world as a whole.
Our cultural ties are developing rapidly. In 2018 and 2019, we will be holding the cross-years of Russia-China Interregional Cooperation. Our countries’ regions are making use of this opportunity to build up their ties, cooperation, mutual understanding and friendship. The number of educational and tourist exchanges between our countries is increasing.
In June of this year, Russia will host the FIFA World Cup, and in 2022 Beijing will host the Winter Olympics. China and Russia support each other in holding these international sports events and are increasing sports exchanges and cooperation.
China and Russia as permanent UN Security Council members are responsible world powers. President Putin and I have agreed to strengthen mutual support and assistance in international affairs and to deepen strategic interaction in this complicated and volatile international situation.
In this context, we are ready to work with the international community to firmly protect the world order and the system of international relations based on the norms and principles of the UN Charter. We will continue to advocate a multipolar world order and more democratic international relations, the political settlement of conflicts, new systems of international relations based on mutual respect, justice and mutual benefit. We will continue to create a community of nations with a common future and do all we can to build a clean and beautiful world of long-lasting peace, universal security, joint prosperity, openness and tolerance.
I know that the agenda of your visit is interesting and includes many events. I will accompany President Putin to a cultural event in Tianjin. We will continue discussions on issues of mutual interest. The day after tomorrow, we will attend an SCO summit with the leaders of the other member states to discuss the future of our organisation and the further development of the Shanghai spirit.
Friends, we will hold a special event soon. I will award President Putin with the first Order of Friendship. It is the highest state decoration in the People’s Republic of China awarded to foreign citizens. President Putin is a great friend of China. He is highly respected by our people and is making a great contribution to strengthening Russian-Chinese relations and friendship between our peoples. He truly deserves this award. I invite all of you to the award ceremony, which begins immediately after this meeting.
Thank you.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, my dear friend! Ladies and gentlemen,
The Russian-Chinese talks were held in a constructive and business-like atmosphere. We discussed all issues related to the current state and future development of bilateral ties. We also had a meaningful exchange of opinions on key international issues.
We made certain arrangements, as you can see from our Joint Statement and a number of interdepartmental agreements we have signed.
I would like to point out the strategic nature of Russian-Chinese interaction, which is based on the principles of equality, neighbourly relations and trust.
We look forward to welcoming the President of China as the main guest at the Eastern Economic Forum, which will be held in Vladivostok in September.
Our interdepartmental commission, foreign policy and industry-specific ministries are working productively. Our parliaments and the general public have developed rewarding ties.
Our trade and economic cooperation is growing. Last year, our trade reached $87 billion. We have increased the delivery of added-value products, including machines, equipment, and vehicles.
In January to March 2018, Russian-Chinese trade went up by 31 percent. If we keep up the pace, we will be able to report a record figure this year towards which we have been working for the past few years – $100 billion.
We are expanding our investment cooperation. Over 70 priority projects worth more than $20 billion are being implemented within the framework of the Intergovernmental Commission on Investment Cooperation.
Energy is the key sphere of bilateral cooperation. Russia is China’s largest fuel supplier to the Chinese market. It supplied over 50 million tonnes of oil to China last year and increased deliveries by 26 percent in January to April 2018. The construction of a gas pipeline via the eastern route is proceeding to schedule.
The parties have coordinated the main parameters of Russian natural gas deliveries from the Russian Far East to China. Russian and Chinese energy companies are working together in gas production and liquefaction at Yamal LNG. Chinese consumers received the first gas from the Yamal field in December 2017.
Under a package of agreements that have been signed in Beijing, Rosatom will build two more power units for the Tianwan NPP. Russia and China have coordinated the construction of one more Russian-designed nuclear power plant in China.
Russia will assist China in the construction of a demonstration fast reactor. Cutting-edge Russian achievements will be applied in China’s Moon exploration programme.
I would like to point out the unequalled format of Russia’s cooperation with China. I am referring to the highly sensitive, unique joint projects of Russian and Chinese researchers.
We also discussed cooperation in high-tech areas, such as the creation of long-haul aircraft and a heavy-lift helicopter.
Our plans include the implementation of infrastructure projects, such as the Eurasia cargo and passenger rail corridor and the Primorye 1 and 2 transport corridors.
We talked about the joint development of the Northern Sea Route, the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Baikal-Amur Mainline.
We noted with satisfaction the further development of our cultural and humanitarian cooperation. The cross years of Russia-China Interregional Cooperation began in February.
This spring, the Bolshoi Theatre and the Russian National Orchestra gave guest performances in China. The Moscow Kremlin Museums are hosting their first exhibition of Ming dynasty artefacts from the Shanghai Museum.
Our ties in education are growing stronger as well. Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, which was cofounded by Moscow State University and Beijing Institute of Technology, has opened its doors.
Mutual tourism is growing.
Our discussions on international issues have confirmed that we hold similar or identical views on many global and regional matters.
We have high regard for the results of China’s chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
We spoke about future interaction between China and the Eurasian Economic Union. We are resolved to continue to work together to promote and align the integration processes in Eurasia, in particular, the EAEU and China’s Silk Road Economic Belt initiative, which should ultimately lead to the development of a Greater Eurasian Partnership.
A big step towards this was made in Astana this May with the signing of an agreement on trade and economic cooperation between EAEU member states and China.
We also discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Russia and China are interested in the restoration of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia as a whole.
It is gratifying that the nascent inter-Korean talks proceed in the spirit of the Russian-Chinese roadmap on the settlement of the Korean problem. Recent Russian-North Korean contacts have confirmed Pyongyang’s readiness for constructive work.
We also touched on the situation with Iran’s nuclear programme.
Ladies and gentlemen, my agenda is not completed yet. Several events are planned for the evening. The President of China has just told me that. Nevertheless, I would like to thank Mr President and all our Chinese colleagues for this hospitable and warm reception.
I am convinced that the arrangements we have made today will help strengthen Russian-Chinese friendship and boost the prosperity of our nations.
Thank you.