BEIJING, January 30. /TASS/. The comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia keeps developing as Beijing and Moscow are deepening cooperation in all areas due to the firm basis of friendly contacts created under the guidance of the two countries’ leaders, Chief Economist of China Center for International Economic Exchange (CCIEE) Chen Wenling told TASS on Monday.
"Under the supervision of leaders of the People’s Republic of China and Russia our countries maintain the comprehensive strategic partnership at a high level in the new era," she said when commenting on the prospects of expansion of Sino-Russian ties, adding that "China and Russia are successfully deepening cooperation in all areas, relying on the firm basis of friendly contacts supported by the peoples of our countries."
Beijing and Moscow are building the relationship that is not aimed against any third party, the expert emphasized. The level of development of Sino-Russian contacts enables the two nations to closely cooperate in many fields, including in connection between the 'One Belt and One Road' initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union’s (EAEU) projects.
"China has signed documents on cooperation related to the 'One Belt and One Road' initiative, with as many as 152 countries and 32 international organizations. We maintain close contacts and cooperate for its connection with the EAEU led by Russia," Chen Wenling said. China and Russia have been successfully implementing in recent years such important joint infrastructure projects as the construction of the railway and highway bridges across the Amur, whereas now they are jointly creating regional transport corridors, particularly with the participation of Mongolia, the expert added.
"Years ago not many people went to the People’s Republic of China from Russia, and vice versa. However, now person-to-person interaction between our countries is becoming increasingly close," she said.
Among the key areas that will make the partnership relations between China and Russia even stronger, Chen Wenling first of all mentioned energy and e-commerce.
"Sino-Russian trade exceeded $190 bln in 2022, an increase of 29.3%. I think that this dynamics will persist in 2023," she said. "At a meeting in 2019 China’s leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin stated the necessity to increase trade turnover between China and Russia by 2025 to $200 bln. However, we already closely approached this level in 2022," the CCIEE’s chief economist said.
Energy cooperation between China and Russia is constantly developing, even despite an array of challenges related to the pandemic and a poor recovery of the global economy, she said, adding that Beijing has been Moscow’s main trade partner for 12 consecutive years.
All this "demonstrates that Sino-Russian trade is developing even despite the negative trends," the expert pointed out.