China and Russia eye outer space, inner harmony
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| Sergei Razov |
Editor's Note: Russia and China were contentious neighbors for many decades, but in the past 20 years have come to a new understanding and cooperation. Sino-Russian trade remains relatively small, but the two nations are looking to build ties in many fields, and often stand together on international issues. What is the future of Sino-Russian relations? What values do China and Russia share? People's Daily Online (PO) talked to Sergei Razov (Razov), Russian ambassador to China, on these issues.
PO: In the UN and its Security Council, as well as in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and other organizations, how will Russia cooperate in the future with China, and what are the current achievements in cooperation between the two countries?
Razov: Russia and China cooperate and exchange views actively in these organizations, especially in the UN and its Security Council where they coordinate positions. All these deeds are intended to help people in both Russia and China, and helpful to the peace and stability of regions and the world.
Russia and China are congenial with each other's position, closely or completely, on many important international issues including the current situation in Libya, where we held the same views when voting on UN Resolutions 1970 and 1973. Russia and China now both assert that peaceful means should be used to solve the problem. Therefore, there is quite a sound platform for cooperation between the two countries.
PO: What are the major fields that should be promoted in cooperation between Russia and China?
Razov: One thing I want to mention is that the heads of the two states met only seven times between 1949 and 1991, the year the Soviet Union collapsed. Last year they met six times. There will soon be another meeting this month in Sanya, Hainan Province, as the first of the year. And we are expecting President Hu Jintao to visit Russia in this summer, which will be a key event between the countries. So the top-level political contacts between us are quite frequent.
In the past year, the trading value regarding our two countries realized a breakthrough compared to 2008 when the financial crisis occurred. Moreover, China has become the largest trade partner of Russia.
The cross-country crude oil pipeline that transports oil from Russia to Mohe and Daqing in China has been operating since January 1 this year. According to the contract, Russia will supply 15 million tons of crude oil to China every year through the pipeline in the following two decades.
In addition, the leaders of our two states have approved an outline on the cooperation between the Far East and Eastern Siberian regions of Russia and Northeast China, which will last till 2018. So we can join hands broadly in the adjacent areas of Russia and China, and have began some large projects.
