MOSCOW, July 01. /ITAR-TASS/. A solid diplomatic tandem of Russia and China has gained its place on the global arena but it is not aimed against any third party, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday at a meeting with Russian diplomats in Moscow.

“We can say that a solid diplomatic bond of Russia and China emerged at the present-day world arena,” Putin said. “It is based on the common view of global processes and regional problems.”

“It is essentially important that the Russian-Chinese friendship is not aimed against any third party. We [Russia and China] are not setting up any military alliances. On the contrary, it [friendship] is an example of the mutually equal, respectful and productive cooperation between the countries in the 21st century,” the Russian president said.

 

Russia and China boosting cooperation

Russia and China recently achieved a significant boost in their bilateral relations, primarily in the economic, energy, space and scientific as well as military spheres.

One of the milestone deals between the countries was signed during Putin’s visit to China in May and it was an agreement on the Russian natural gas supplies to China.

Russian energy giant Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) signed a 30-year contract on Russian natural gas supplies to China via the eastern route worth a total of $400 billion.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Monday that Russia-China trade might reach $200 billion earlier than by 2020.

Both countries are currently holding the Russian-Chinese EXPO in China’s Harbin, which is a large-scale exhibition site allowing Russia and China to demonstrate competitive products, industrial and technical developments, present their production and investment potential, develop bilateral cooperation projects and establish new contacts.

Cooperation between Russia’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) and China’s Beidou is also among the top priorities for the two countries. Russia plans to sign an agreement with China this year to place three GLONASS ground stations on Chinese soil and accommodate three Chinese Beidou stations on its territory.

Earlier in the year, both countries conducted large-scale naval drills off China’s coast.