April 9, 2024
On April 9, 2024, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, jointly met with reporters after holding talks with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov in Beijing.
Wang Yi said that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. Over the past three-quarters of a century, China-Russia relations have gone through ups and downs and become stronger with time, becoming increasingly mature, tenacious and profound. The two sides regard each other as priority partners, uphold the spirit of permanent good-neighborly friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperation, elevate bilateral relations to the highest level in history of comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era, and set an example of friendly exchanges and win-win cooperation between major countries and neighboring countries. Looking back on the past and looking forward to the future, in order to further consolidate and develop China-Russia relations, we must achieve the “five always”:
Both sides must always follow the strategic guidance of heads of state diplomacy. President Xi Jinping and President Putin have grasped and outlined China-Russia relations from the depth of history and the height of the times, and have continuously injected new impetus into the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era. This year, the two heads of state will continue to maintain close exchanges through various means. Both sides will fundamentally follow the consensus reached by the two heads of state and promote the stability and long-term development of bilateral relations.
Both sides must always adhere to the principle of “non-alignment, non-confrontation, and non-targeting of third parties.” China and Russia have gone through ups and downs. Both sides have summed up historical experience and lessons and found a correct path to promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations. The good relations between China and Russia today are hard-won and deserve to be cherished and carefully maintained by both sides.
Both sides must always stick to the right path in the face of major issues of right and wrong. As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and major emerging powers, China and Russia must stand unequivocally on the side of historical progress and fairness and justice, actively respond to the universal aspirations and legitimate concerns of people of all countries, and advocate that all countries pursue dialogue rather than confrontation, and partnership rather than alliance. We should establish a new path for state-to-state relations, oppose all hegemonic and bullying behaviors, oppose the Cold War mentality and incite division and confrontation, and actively promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Both sides should always pursue mutual benefits and win-win results in cooperation. China and Russia will be more active in finding the convergence of their interests, give full play to their respective advantages, carry out mutually beneficial cooperation, and achieve mutual success. China and Russia will continue to focus on the well-being of the two peoples, advocate inclusive economic globalization, jointly oppose unilateralism, protectionism, “building walls and barriers” and “decoupling and breaking chains”, and work together to maintain international industrial chain supply. chain stability and cultivate new driving forces for global development and progress.
Both sides should always promote an equal and orderly multipolar world. China and Russia both believe that the current major changes in the world are accelerating and the “Global South” is gaining momentum. We must adhere to the equality of all countries, large and small, oppose hegemonism and power politics, oppose the monopoly of international affairs by a few countries, and effectively promote the democratization of international relations. China and Russia both support the core position of the United Nations in the global governance system, and the two sides will further strengthen international cooperation. This year Russia serves as the chairman of the BRICS, and China will take over the rotating chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization within this year. The two sides will support each other’s presidencies and light up the “Southern Moment” in global governance.