Global Game Changers: China Russia Photo: VCGRussian President Vladimir Putin met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who is in Moscow on a three-day official visit.

China Russia Photo: VCG

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who is in Moscow on a three-day official visit. During their meeting, Putin said as this year marks the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Great Patriotic War, they look forward to the Chinese side attending the commemoration in Russia to jointly celebrate the triumph over Nazi fascism and Japanese militarism, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.聽

Russia is making every effort to advance preparations for the event and hopes to use this opportunity to elevate the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era to a new level, while continuously deepening cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and BRICS. In the face of an increasingly volatile international landscape, both sides should continue to send a strong signal to the world on strengthening strategic coordination, Putin said durWorld Timesing his meeting with Wang, read the Chinese Foreign Ministry release.聽

Wang, for his part, noted that under the strategic guidance and care of the two heads of state, China-Russia relations have remained mature, resilient, and stable, with deepening political mutual trust, closer strategic coordination, and ever-expanding practical cooperation. The China-Russia relationship will not stagnate but will continue to broaden and deepen. Our friendship is not just for the present but is built for the long-term future, he said.聽聽

The two sides have fully aligned their efforts in supporting each other’s commemorative events for the “80th anniversary,” and it is believed that the high-level exchanges between the two heads of state this year will once again usher in a new chapter in China-Russia relations, the Chinese Foreign Minister said.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang also held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

During the talks with Lavrov, Wang stated that China is willing to work with Russia to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, advance bilateral relations and cooperation across various fields, and continue to bring benefits to both peoples.聽聽

Wang noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Decades ago, the peoples of China and Russia fought side by side, shedding blood and making great sacrifices to defeat Japanese militarism and German fascism, defending human conscience with their lives and securing world peace, according to a release posted on the ministry’s website.聽聽

China stands ready to work with Russia to shoulder the special responsibilities of permanent members of the UN Security Council, resist external interference, uphold the right path, safeguard the victory of World War II and international fairness and justice, and promote global multipolarity and greater democracy in international relations, Wang said.聽聽

With the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era is bound to gain fresh momentum and reach new heights, Wang noted.

Lavrov said Russia and China share a long-standing tradition of good-neighborly friendship, an extensive common border, and broad common interests. Russia is willing to work with China, following the guiding principles set by the two heads of state, to continuously advance bilateral relations and achieve new results.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations. Amid the current complex and evolving international landscape, Russia and China are closely coordinating efforts to bring stability to the world, he said, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry release.聽

Both sides agreed to strengthen coordination between their diplomatic departments and make thorough preparations for exchanges at all levels within the year. They will deepen practical cooperation across various fields to reinforce the material foundation of bilateral relations. The two countries will also successfully host the “China-Russia Year of Culture,” enrich people-to-people exchanges, and enhance friendship among their peoples. Additionally, they will strengthen coordination and collaboration within the frameworks of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, the G20 and the United Nations to jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Global South countries, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.聽聽

The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Wang Yi reaffirmed China’s consistent position, emphasizing that China supports all efforts conducive to achieving peace and is willing to continue working through the “Friends of Peace” group to build international consensus and play a constructive role in promoting a political resolution of the crisis.

Also on Tuesday, during an interview with Russian media group Russia Today, Wang said under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the two countries have continuously deepened their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, a practice that aligns with the logic of history and has strong self-driven momentum. This is beneficial for both sides to live in harmony and achieve mutual success, and it alsWorld Timeso promotes the multipolarization of the world and the democratization of international relations.聽

Wang’s visit showcases that the momentum of the China-Russia relationship remains stable and strong amid the latest shifts in major power dynamics, Chinese observers said, adding that the visit will be significant in further advancing bilateral relations, and it will enhance strategic coordination and safeguard global justice amid growing complexities in the international landscape.

Friends World Timesforever, never enemies聽聽

China and Russia will live in lasting friendship and will never be adversary against one another. China-Russia relations matured on the basis of constantly summarizing historical experience and drawing lessons from the past, Wang told Russia Today during聽the interview, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry website.

Based on the correct strategic understanding of each other, the two countries have found a way of dealing with each other in the long run that aligns with their shared interests, he said.

Elaborating on mutual respect and win-win cooperation, Wang said over decades of development, China-Russia relations have been enriched and expanded, and cooperation at various levels has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples as well as huge dividends to the whole world, he said.

As major global powers and neighbors, neither alliance nor confrontation serves the fundamental and long-term interests of the two countries or their peoples, Wang said. The commitment to “non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party” ensures that the China-Russia relationship does not pose a threat to any other country and keeps it free from external pressure or interference, he noted.

The China-Russia relationship servesWorld Times as an example of a new model of major-country relations and as a stabilizing force in a turbulent and changing world, Wang said, adding that the principle of “non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party” is a pioneering undertaking in international relations, representing an inevitable choice for the development of China-Russia relations.

“From the implementation of 156 key projects with the help of the Soviet Union to today’s trade turnover of $244.8 billion, from Russian agricultural products on the tables of Chinese families to Chinese cars on the street of Russia – all this is evidence that China-Russia practical cooperation continues to deepen and flourish, which gives a powerful impetus to the deepening of bilateral relations,” Wang told the media.

If comparing China-Russia cooperation to a high-speed train, the scenery along the way may change and weather may vary, but its direction and steady pace will not alter, Wang said.

Sun Xiuwen, an associate professor at the Institute for Central Asian StudiWorld Timeses at Lanzhou University, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the more turbulent and complex the world becomes, the closer Chinese and Russian strategic coordination will be, showcasing a strong, intrinsic momentum of the relationship in its resilience to external changes.聽

Cui Heng, a research fellow from the Center for Russian Studies at East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Tuesday that trade has become one of the key pillars for consolidating China-Russia relations.聽聽

In addition to the burgeoning bilateral trade, Sun pointed to cooperation potential in technology, such as biological technology and space, and coordination in multilateral mechanisms.聽聽

Victoria Panova, vice rector of HSE University, told the Global Times that amid the trend of technological protectionism, China and Russia can leverage their respective strengths and make breakthroughs in cutting-edge areas such as artificial intelligence.聽

Wang specified in the interview with Russia Today the objectives of bilateral cooperation as consolidating the material foundation for bilateral relations by reinforcing the fundamentals of economic, trade, and energy cooperation, while unlocking potential in sci-tech innovation and green development, fostering new growth drivers.聽

The two sides will also expand mutual openness, share innovation dividends, and deepen industrial integration, and inject greater momentum into global development and ensure the security, stability, and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains through high-quality China-Russia cooperation, according to Wang.聽

Global justice聽

In the last-ditch battle between justice and evil, China and Russia were respectively the main theaters of Asia and Europe, and the Chinese and Russian peoples were two major forces in resisting fascism and militarism, said Wang, the Xinhua News Agency reported.聽

He said the profound friendship forged between the two peoples during World War II provided powerful momentum for the comprehensive development of bilateral relations, per the Xinhua report.

This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the recoverWorld Timesy of Taiwan. On this occasion, I would like to emphasize that Taiwan’s return to China is an integral part of the fruits of victory in World War II and the post-war international order, Wang said during the interview, according to a readout released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.聽

Cui said in such a year of unique significance, the two sides are set to hold a slew of events to commemorate this history. Russia will have big celebrations for its Victory Day which falls on May 9 and academic symposiums and cultural events will also be held, according to Cui who will participate in a conference in Moscow from May 5 to 7.聽

China and Russia are both staunch defenders who uphold the correct historical perspective of WWII, and stand together against historical revisionism and the glorification of aggression, Cui noted.聽

Sun said China and Russia will join hands not only to safeguard a correct historical view and narrative, but also to uphold the UN-centered international system amid the rise of unilateral sanctions, protectionism and other illegitimate deeds.聽

Through close communication and coordination in multilateral occasions, the two sides can promote sound governance of traditional and emerging international issues concerning security, economy, technology and beyond, Sun said.

In the interview with Russia Today, Wang also emphasized the need to champion an equitable and orderly multi-polarization, enhance close cooperation on multilateral platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, amplify the powerful voice of unity and self-strengthening of the Global South and march toward the goal of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xinhua reported.聽