MOSCOW, February 22 (Itar-Tass) – China attaches paramount significance to strengthening strategic partnership relations with Russia, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on Friday after talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
“Rather complicated and profound changes are going on in the world, impacts of the global financial crisis are felt, instability and uncertainty factors are enhancing in the international situation,” he said. “In these conditions, strengthening Russian-Chinese relations and all-round strategic partnership is becoming ever more important.”
“Peace and development are the keynote idea of the present day,” the Chinese diplomat noted. “During out talks with Sergei Lavrov, we were unanimous that our countries should build up strategic cooperation on the international arena in order to pool efforts to defend the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and basic norms of international relations.”
“We reached agreements on a wide range of issues,” Yang Jiechi went on. “The Chinese side highly estimates the positive tendency in the development of relations with Russia. During talks we made profound political preparation for the organization of a state visit China’s top officials to Russia in 2013. We agreed to maintain close contacts and cooperation to see to it that the summit meeting is a success.”
The Chinese foreign minister voiced optimism about bilateral trade between the two countries. Thus, in his words, Russian-Chinese trade in 2012 exceeded 80 billion U.S. dollars. “Our task is to bring bilateral trade up to 100 billion U.S. dollars by the end of the year,” he stressed. “We shall do our best to achieve this goal.”
He also called to take more active steps to prepare for the forthcoming summit meeting of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) due in South Africa’s Durban. “We want this summit to promote cooperation between the BRICS countries and this way to ensure peace, development and stability in the world,” he stressed.