Talking with President Putin by videoconference on Dec. 15, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that the world has entered “a period of turbulent change.” Nevertheless, he said “Sino-Russian relations have withstood the tests of various storms and demonstrated new vitality.” The volume of Sino-Russian trade has reached a new high, over $100 billion for the first three quarters of the year. Xi observed the successful conclusion of the “China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation” with a series of large strategic projects successfully implemented and the smooth development of the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union.
“The two countries actively demonstrated their responsibility as major powers, united the international community to fight the epidemic, explained the correct connotations of democracy and human rights, and became the mainstays practicing true multilateralism and safeguarding international fairness and justice,” Xi said.
He expressed his pleasure at hosting President Putin next year for the Beijing Winter Olympics. He said that the two countries must continue to raise “a louder voice in global governance” to assert “fairness and justice” in order to “resolutely oppose hegemonic behavior and Cold War mentality under the cloak of ‘multilateralism’ and ‘rules’” which is being perpetrated by the Biden Administration. He commented that under the guise of “democracy,” “certain international forces are arbitrarily interfering in the internal affairs of China and Russia” and “brutally trampling on international law.” The two countries should therefore strengthen their coordination and cooperation to safeguard their security interests. “China will, as always firmly support Russia’s efforts to maintain the country’s long-term stability,” he said. Xi also pointed to his recent proposal at the UN for a Global Development Initiative as an example of “improving global governance and advancing the cause of global development.” He said that whether a country is democratic or not can only be judged by its own people.
