The China-Russia strategic partnership is glowing with optimism,
standing at an all-time high.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is in Beijing today for a state
visit to China.
Putin will attend the grand opening ceremony of the Year of
Russia in China. We are expecting a large number of events to be
unveiled, presenting a more vivid picture of the big neighbor to
the north.
Pomp aside, a concrete demonstration of the strategic
partnership will be several agreements the leaders will ink in the
next two days. They are expected to detail co-operation on energy,
trade, Shanghai Co-operation Organization and issues concerning
Central Asia and other parts of the world.
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Bilateral relations are built on solid foundations.
Putin announced in January that the proposal on the pipeline to
send oil from Siberia to China will be finalized in April, and
construction is due to begin in the summer. Such a statement
indicates that the pipeline issue will be one of the priority
topics for President Hu Jintao and Putin. Energy will dominate
trade this year, and for many years to come. Energy co-operation is
based on mutual needs and benefits both sides.
Putin's China visit will maintain the healthy development of
bilateral relations. These ties have been moving further into
trade, politics and non-governmental fields.
Trade between the two countries is not fully developed, with its
volume hitting nearly US$30 billion last year. China and Russia
have targeted a trade volume somewhere between US$60 billion and
US$80 billion by 2010.
A good working and personal relationship between the two leaders
facilitates their exchange of views on issues of utmost
importance.
China-Russia ties have warmed with the signing in 2004 and
ratification in 2006 of the final settlement of a protracted border
dispute. Guided by the principles of mutual understanding, the two
countries have solved the boundary dispute for good. Their
resolution of the issue, which has set a precedent for other
members of the global village to handle boundary disputes through
dialogue and negotiations, has offered a building block for
consolidating bilateral relations.
During his visit to Russia from June 30 to July 3, 2005,
President Hu deliberated on boosting bilateral co-operation,
including investment and the energy sector. He signed a declaration
with President Putin denouncing "monopoly and domination in
international affairs" and calling for an end to "attempts to
divide nations into leaders and those being led."
Putin's China visit will mean new additions to the strategic
co-operative partnership.
The two countries have decided to hold the Year of Russia in
China this year and the Year of China in Russia in 2007.
For the Year of Russia in China, some 250 events are being
designed, which are believed to promote understanding between the
broad layers of society in the two countries and encourage
co-operation in all spheres.
The two countries have been working hard to further pragmatic
co-operation in every area and make new breakthroughs in key areas
such as economy, trade, science and technology.
The upcoming events in the two years will further accelerate
Sino-Russian ties.
A stable, healthy China-Russia relationship not only safeguards
the national interests of both countries but also contributes to
global peace, stability and development.
(China Daily March 20, 2006)
