Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) shakes hands with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, May 26, 2017 [Xinhua]Russian-Chinese relations “are not vulnerable to any changes in the international situation” according to the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang who has met top Russian leaders in Moscow.
“Our resoluteness and confidence in a continued deepening of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation remains unwavering,” Wang Yi said on Friday.
“Together with our Russian partners, we will duly safeguard and develop ties, and will always see our relations among our main foreign policy priorities, resolutely uphold each other’s key interests, strengthen coordination for the sake of our prosperity, stability, and development in the region and around the world,” he added.
The two top diplomats discussed the Syrian crisis as well as the standoff with North Korea.
“We have coinciding approaches to the situation in Syria, including within the context of supporting the Astana platform, where an agreement was reached to create de-escalation zones in Syria,” Lavrov said.
During the Astana talks, Iran, Russia and Turkey sponsored a Memorandum of De-Escalation for establishing four safe zones which the Russian news agency TASS said include “the Idlib province and some neighboring territories (Latakia, Hama and Aleppo) to the north of Homs, East Ghouta and some provinces in southern Syria (Daraa and Quneitra)”.
The US is backing rebel fighters against the Syrian government in the protracted civil war.
On Thursday, the Chinese Foreign Minister met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.
“Russia is our most important strategic partner in working on the Belt and Road… The Chinese Commerce Ministry and the Russian Economic Development Ministry are currently examining possibilities for developing a Eurasian trade partnership. The relevant agreement could be signed during the Chinese President’s upcoming visit,” Wang said.
Wang also discussed North Korea with the Russian Foreign Minister.
Moscow and Beijing are firmly in favor of the full denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Lavrov said after talks with his Chinese counterpart.
Wang however reiterated Beijing’s opposition to the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to South Korea.
“We insist that the Peninsula should be denuclearized while peace and stability should be ensured, as we stand against any statements that could raise tensions, and oppose the deployment of the THAAD system to South Korea under the pretext of the North Korean nuclear issue,” Wang Yi said.
Earlier this month, China and Russia announced plans to set up a joint regional development and cooperation investment fund with a total amount of 100 billion yuan (around $14.5 billion) to bolster the development of Russia’s Far East and Northeast China.
“The State Committee for Development and Reform of China will establish a 100 billion yuan Russian-Chinese investment fund for regional development and cooperation with an initial capital of 10 billion yuan to promote cooperation between Northeast China and the Far East,” the document released at the Belt and Road forum said.
TBP and Agencies
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