Source: Eurasia EXPERT Published: 2022-02-08

Russian Website: 

https://eurasia.expert/putin-i-si-vpervye-zayavili-ob-obshchikh-strategicheskikh-tsennostyakh/

Eurasia EXPERT：Russian President Vladimir Putin wrote an article for the Chinese news agency Xinhua, in which he spoke about partnership and the future in relations between Russia and China. The article "Russia and China: a strategic partnership oriented towards the future" was published on the eve of the Russian leader's visit to Beijing. How would you evaluate the article of the President of Russia? How was this article received in China? What main theses could you single out from his article?

WANG Wen: President Putin's article on Xinhua news agency has caused great influence in China. At the same day, he also received a written interview from the head of CCTV. Xinhua news agency is the largest news agency in the world, with hundreds of millions of readers every day. CCTV is the TV station with the largest audience in the world. President Putin's choice of articles published by Xinhua news agency and an exclusive interview with CCTV show that he knows Chinese media very well and hopes that more Chinese people can read what he thinks. On February 4, the fourth day of the Chinese lunar new year, the beginning of the spring of the Chinese lunar calendar and the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, President Putin set off a "Russian Hot" in China in a variety of ways, such as writing, attending, making statements, signing contracts and so on. As President Putin mentioned in his article, "the Russia China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination has entered a new era, reached an unprecedented level and become a model of efficiency, responsibility and future orientation". How the two major countries can trust, cooperate and be efficient is the blessing of the two peoples and the world.

Eurasia EXPERT：In his article, the President of Russia said that a mutually beneficial energy alliance is being formed between our countries. "Along with long-term deliveries of Russian hydrocarbons to China, we plan to implement a number of major joint projects," the article says. How has cooperation with Russia in the field of energy influenced and is affecting the energy security of China and the Asian region as a whole?

WANG Wen: The statement of "mutually beneficial energy alliance" has aroused great repercussions in China's energy industry. The economy and energy of China and Russia are highly complementary, and the energy cooperation between the two countries is mutually beneficial and win-win. At present, China is the largest importer of oil in the world. Russia's strategy of increasing oil exports to China is the correct decision made by President Putin. In 2003, only about 7% of China's crude oil imports came from Russia and Central Asia;In 2019, the proportion of China's crude oil imports from Russia rose to 15%. Over the past 16 years, China's crude oil imports have increased by about 10% annually, and its GDP has risen from about 3% in the world in 2003 and ranking the seventh in the world to about 15% in 2019 and ranking the second in the world successfully. This shows that Russia has shared the achievements of China's economic development and also made important contributions to China's economic development. However, in 2021, with China's low-carbon development strategy, China's crude oil imports fell for the first time in 20 years. Russia's continued expansion of crude oil exports to China means that China will reduce the proportion of other importing countries (such as some countries in Africa and Latin America). From this perspective, China and Russia should increase cooperation faster, The promotion of economic integration in the Eurasian region will continue to deepen.

Eurasia EXPERT：Vladimir Putin held talks with President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping in Beijing. It was noted that the trade turnover between China and Russia exceeded $140 billion last year, thus reaching a new historical record. At the same time, the countries intend to increase it to $200-250 billion. The President of China announced his intention to raise the volume of trade between the countries to $250 billion. How realistic do you think is the task of raising trade between our countries to $200-250 billion? How, in your opinion, can such indicators be achieved in bilateral trade and economic cooperation?

WANG Wen: In 2021, the trade volume between China and Russia exceeded 140 billion US dollars, an increase of 26%. The leaders of the two countries set the goal of reaching US $200-250 billion in China Russian trade, which is to increase by 42% - 78% on the basis of 2021. As long as the growth trend in 2021 can be maintained, this goal can be achieved in the next 3-5 years. I believe that with the disappearance of COVID-19 and the efforts of the two countries, this goal will probably be faster than we can imagine. Take China's other two neighbors in Northeast Asia as an example. In 2021, the total trade volume between China and South Korea exceeded US $300 billion; The total trade volume of goods between China and Japan has reached 370 billion US dollars. With the further deepening of RECP, the trade between China, Japan and South Korea will continue to grow. The economic complementarity and market potential of China and Russia in energy, science and technology, industrial products and agriculture are much greater than those of China, South Korea and China and Japan. To tap the potential of Sino Russian trade volume, the key is to promote the facilitation and liberalization of China-Russian trade and investment.

Eurasia EXPERT：Russia and China intend to step up work within the framework of the EAEU and the One Belt, One Road initiative to deepen cooperation. The text of the corresponding statement by the Russian Federation and China on international relations entering a new era and global sustainable development is published on the Kremlin website.

"The parties intend to intensify work on linking the development plans of the Eurasian Economic Union and the One Belt, One Road initiative in order to deepen practical cooperation between the EAEU and China in various fields, increase the level of interconnectedness between the Asia-Pacific and Eurasian regions," the statement said. .What are the prospects for linking the EAEU and the One Belt, One Road initiative? What is the purpose of intensifying work on linking the EAEU with the Chinese initiative "One Belt, One Road"?

WANG Wen：China has signed One Belt, One Road initiative(BRI) cooperation MOU with 148 countries and 32 international organizations. BRI has become the largest public product in the world. EAEU and BRI has achieved win-win results. It is the largest and most influential region in the BRI global cooperation maproad. The leaders of China and Russia strive to make the two countries realize friendship and never war and conflict, which will be a great progress in the history of human civilization and the game between great powers. To achieve this goal, we must first make the infrastructure, trade, transportation, investment, personnel and information of the two countries more interconnected, so that the two countries can help each other and make common progress like a family. This is BRI and EAEU cooperation important prospect and purpose. From this perspective, BRI and EAEU cooperation is still a long way to go, but we are confident.

Eurasia EXPERT：In your opinion, what are the reasons for the rapprochement between Russia and China?

WANG Wen: The continuous efforts of the leaders of China and Russia are the primary reason for the continuous progress of friendly relations between the two countries. In the past nine years, the leaders of China and Russia have met 4-5 times a year and are really good friends. China and Russia are highly consistent in foreign policy, global governance and security strategy. They are back-to-back and shoulder-to-shoulder strategic partners. According to Chinese netizens, the two countries trust each other and completely hand over the unprotected behind to each other. When they wield a gun against foreign enemies, they won't worry about the enemies attacking from behind. We hope that this relationship of mutual trust will last forever.

Eurasia EXPERT：Russian and Chinese Presidents signed a joint statement on international relations entering a new era and global sustainable development. What does the joint statement of the leaders of Russia and China testify to?

WANG Wen: The joint statement on the new era and global sustainable development first explained the common values of China and Russia on major strategic themes such as democracy, development, security, world order and epidemic. This common values is of great significance to world peace, civilization and progress. It is a transcendence of the law of the rise and fall of a great power over the past 500 years. China and Russia have strongly criticized the actions of a small number of international forces that pursue unilateralism, interfere in their internal affairs, damage the legitimate rights and interests of other countries, and create contradictions, differences and confrontation. I believe everyone knows which country the two countries criticize. The only sentence in the statement that used "strong condemnation" was the "trilateral security partner" established by name and surname against the United States, Britain and Australia, the so-called "aukus". Chinese netizens jokingly called it "Australia cries to death". As Hu Xijin, a well-known Chinese media person, has a very interesting metaphor. The cooperation between two lions is more effective than one lion attracting several dogs.

Please Find us:    Twitter: RDCYINST    YouTube: RealRDCY    LinkedIn: 人大重阳RDCY    Facebook: RDCYINST    Instagram: rdcyinst