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RF-Chinese relations best in centuries-long history - Putin

“The fact that the new Chinese leader makes his first foreign trip to our country confirms the special nature of strategic partnership between Russia and China” - Putin

MOSCOW, March 21 (Itar-Tass) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said the commonality of Russian-Chinese approaches to fundamental issues of world order and key international problems has become an important stabilising factor in world politics.

In an interview with Itar-Tass on the eve of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia and ahead of the BRICS summit in South Africa, Putin said: “Today the Russian-Chinese relations are on the rise, they are the best in their centuries-long history. They are characterised by a high degree of mutual trust, respect for each other's interests, support in vital issues, they are a true partnership and are genuinely comprehensive.”

The head of state said, “President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping is currently on a state visit to Russia”. “The fact that the new Chinese leader makes his first foreign trip to our country confirms the special nature of strategic partnership between Russia and China,” Putin stressed.

“Russia and China are two influential members of the international community, they are permanent members of the UN Security Council, and they are among the world’s largest economies. That is why the strategic partnership between us is of great importance on both a bilateral and global scale,” the Russian head of state said.

“Russia and China show an example of a balanced and pragmatic approach to solving the most critical issues, such as the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, the nuclear problem on the Korean Peninsula, the situation around Iran’s nuclear program,” Putin stressed.

The president said, “The commonality of our approaches to fundamental issues of world order and key international problems has become an important stabilising factor in world politics. Within the framework of the UN, the Group of Twenty, BRICS, the SCO, APEC and other multilateral formats, we are working together, helping to shape a new, more just world order, ensure peace and security, defend basic principles of international law.” “That is our common contribution to strengthening sustainable global development,” Putin said.

The president added, “In the last five years only, the volume of bilateral trade has more than doubled. In 2012 the Russian-Chinese trade turnover increased by 5.2% to constitute $87.5 billion (in 2007 the figure was $40 billion). China has firmly taken the first place among our trading partners.”

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