MOSCOW, October 3. /TASS/. China has a balanced and consistent position on the Ukrainian issue, supporting the rectification of the conflict’s root causes, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an article for Rossiyskaya Gazeta on the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Russia.
"We are noting China’s balanced and consistent approach to the situation around the Ukraine crisis," the Russian foreign minister said. "The initiatives on its political and diplomatic settlement promoted by Beijing take into account the most important part - the need to remove the conflict’s primary causes," he explained.
Lavrov added that they include NATO’s eastward expansion, the creation of an anti-Russian military foothold in Ukraine, the 2014 coup in Kiev supported by Washington and Brussels as well as the neo-Nazi Kiev regime’s policy on eliminating all things Russian, including the language, culture, media outlets and the Orthodox Church.
Additionally, the top Russian diplomat noted that Russia and China are maintaining close coordination on the most pertinent regional issues, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula, in the South China and East China seas, in the Middle East and Africa.
Global importance of Russia-China cooperation
The importance of the Russia-China partnership in global affairs is growing which is reflected by trusting relations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, Lavrov said.
"Intensive and trusting interaction of our leaders is the main driving force of Russian-Chinese relations," the top Russian diplomat said. "We see this as a vivid testament to the special nature of our ties and the growing importance of the Russia-China partnership in global affairs," he stressed.
"Nowadays, when the world is going through truly tectonic shifts, related to the shaping of a multipolar world order, the Russian-Chinese strategic connection does not only serve as a potent balancing factor in international politics but also directly facilitates the development of the two countries’ economies and the increased well-being of their citizens," Lavrov noted.
He reiterated that over the past years, Putin and Xi held over 40 bilateral meetings.
Russia-China military cooperation developing, not directed against others
Military cooperation between Russia and China is intensively growing but not directed against third countries, Lavrov said.
"The high level of mutual trust allows to intensively develop military and military-technical cooperation, conduct joint drills, organize air and maritime patrols, engage in friendly interaction along the shared border," the top Russian diplomat said. "That said, our actions are absolutely transparent, strictly comply with international law and are not directed against any third countries," he stressed.
According to Lavrov, such cooperation "facilitates the strengthening of security of the two countries and maintains international and regional stability, above all, in greater Eurasia.".
Russia, China almost completely switched to transactions in national currencies
Russia and China have almost completely shifted to conducting transactions in national currencies with their share amounting to 95%, Lavrov said.
"Last year, Russia was in first place in terms of the growing trade turnover rate with China. In 2023, mutual trade surpassed the mark of $200 bln and continues to grow," he said. "I would like to note that bilateral transactions have almost completely switched to national currencies, the ruble and yuan. Currently, their share has reached 95%," the top Russian diplomat added.
He stressed that despite various restrictive measures introduced by the US and its allies, the economies of Russia and China continue to develop dynamically. Lavrov emphasized that China has been Russia’s main trade partner over the course of many years.
West intentionally aggravates situation around Taiwan
The West is deliberately fanning the flames of escalation around Taiwan, Lavrov said.
"Our position is close to that of our Chinese partners in terms of assessing the risks related to the West promoting an ‘Indo-Pacific project’ in the Asia-Pacific region by means of creating restricted military and diplomatic mechanisms there aiming to undermine the ASEAN-centric security system that has shaped in the region," he said. "The US and its satellites are intentionally aggravating the situation in the Taiwan Strait," the top Russian diplomat stressed.