Source: Global Times  Published: 2025-05-07

Editor's Note:

Chinese President Xi Jinping is paying a state visit to Russia from May 7 to 10 and will attend the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow, at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. What is the role of China and Russia in winning the World Anti-Fascist War in the past and upholding multilateralism in modern times? What areas of cooperation could inject new vitality into China-Russia relations? Global Times (GT) reporter Wang Wenwen talked to Timofei Bordachev (Bordachev), program director of the Valdai Discussion Club, over these issues.

GT: Chinese President Xi has visited Russia many times. How do you analyze the timing and backdrop of his visit this time? 

Bordachev: I would like to emphasize that it is precisely the joint celebration of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War that is at the forefront of President Xi's visit to Moscow. The 80th anniversary of the end of World War II (WWII) is a major event in Russian history and the participation of the Chinese president in the celebrations in Moscow confirms that China and Russia view the most significant historical dates in the same way. This means that they share common basic values regarding the foundation of the modern system of international relations. 

In fact, this unity of views is important in understanding China and Russia's place in the modern world and the role they play in shaping a fair world order. Their approach is based on a commitment to basic values that date back to the middle of the last century - the centrality of the UN and international law. President Xi's participation in the 80th anniversary of Victory Day is very important in itself: for Russia, for China, for the whole world. 

In essence, the way WWII ended is the basis of the entire legitimacy of the political order of the world in which we have been living for the past 80 years. It is important that this basis is maintained at a time when the US is actively moving to revise the foundations of the current world order and rules, including those that support globalization. The US is currently destroying this economic connectivity - first with sanctions against Russia and now with a tariff war against China. So, I think our leaders will have a lot to talk about in addition to the celebrations.   

GT: How do you comment on the role of China and Russia in winning the World Anti-Fascist War in the past and upholding multilateralism in modern times?

Bordachev: The simple fact of the events of that time is that China and Russia took the brunt of the main aggressors - Japan and Germany. This means that they made the most significant contributions to the victory, especially considering that Japan's aggression against China began much earlier than the official start of WWII. Moreover, it was China and Russia that suffered the most terrible human losses. The backbone of the fascist forces was broken precisely by the peoples of China and the USSR.

Therefore, they contributed the most to the creation of the world order that exists today. It is not perfect or ideal. It contains many distortions, especially those that have emerged in the post-Cold War period. But it is the most appropriate for building a fair way of interstate relations. That is why China and Russia, in advocating genuine multilateralism, seek to protect the achievements of the victory over fascism.

GT: During a telephone conversation with Russian President Putin in February, President Xi said that China and Russia are "true friends." In your opinion, what are the pillars that support this true friendship?

Bordachev: The fact is that our leaders are confident in the commonality of their views on the modern world, and our societies share these views. First, China and Russia have established a strong bilateral foundation for relations - a trust that is underpinned by the absence of problems in bilateral relations and an understanding that our development goals cannot conflict. 

Second, the modern development of the world makes China and Russia natural long-term partners. Russia and China are not seeking to destroy the existing world order, but are consistently working toward making it more robust and fairer. Both countries support the efforts of many nations to free themselves from various forms of external dependence, and uphold the free choice of economic and political partnerships. This aligns with the most important trends in the development of the modern international system. 

Finally, China and Russia see the basic principle of any world order - the question of justice - in the same way. Traditionally, it is believed in the West that the world order cannot be fair because the power of different states differs, and the stronger ones will always have more rights than the weaker ones. This is a strong viewpoint. But if we accept this perspective, conflict will remain at the center of world politics. China and Russia believe that cooperation should be at the focus instead. They have made cooperation the basis of their relationship and want the same for the rest of the world.  

GT: Energy cooperation has been the driving force of China-Russia trade. What other areas of cooperation could inject new vitality into the bilateral relationship? 

Bordachev: Cooperation in the energy sector has become the foundation of trade relations between China and Russia because this is where the two economies complement each other to the greatest extent. I would like to highlight two very important new areas for the modern world: transport and new technologies, primarily those related to AI. 

Strengthening transport, logistics and trade infrastructure across Eurasia is important. Cooperation between China and Russia in transport is vital for the development and security of all of Eurasia and our two countries. Joint projects in the transport sector are also essential for breaking the monopoly of large companies in such important markets as air transportation. 

As for AI, this is a truly cutting-edge area where real competition is unfolding on the global stage. China has recently made significant achievements in this domain. Much work is being done in Russia based on independent technologies for training artificial intelligence models. Here we must conduct serious expert dialogue at both the political and technological level. Both our countries have the human resources for this. 

GT: These areas of cooperation you mentioned are helping to form a new cooperation network that features pragmatism and a forward-looking perspective. Besides expanding the depth and width of China-Russia ties, how does such cooperation set an example for South-South cooperation?  

Bordachev: Indeed, these areas of cooperation are important for the Global South and for cooperation among its members. Gaining access to the transport opportunities that can be created by China and Russia will increase the Global South's access to world trade, as well as their connectivity to the global economy as a whole. Additionally, the creation of new transport opportunities, including civil aviation, will reduce dependence on the West. 

In the field of AI, we are already facing the problem of "data colonialism," where big Western players monopolize data and use it for their own self-serving purposes. Now AI is being trained on user data from around the world, but its control is concentrated in the hands of a few states and corporations, which is detrimental to the Global South and South-South cooperation. China and Russia, through their cooperation in AI, can set a great example and contribute to the emancipation of the Global South in the realms of science, culture and education. This will not only create a new area of cooperation between our two countries, but will practically help promote South-South interaction, which is important for creating a more balanced world. This is a world that aligns with Chinese and Russian expectations in the best way.