Today, Russia and China celebrated the 25th anniversary of the “Great Treaty”—the July 16, 2001 “Russian-Chinese Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov used the occasion, in his speech, “A Constant in an Era of Radical Change,” to present the model to the world at large, as to how nation states benefit each other. He stated:
“Today, as a more equitable multipolar world order takes shape, the multifaceted partnership between Russia and China—two great powers and largest neighbors—stands as a model for interstate engagement founded on equality, a balance of interests, and mutual advantage... I should stress that relations between Russia and China are built on an equal footing, are free from ideological dogma, are not directed against third countries, and remain resilient to the influence of external circumstances.”
He summarized some practical results: “Over the past quarter-century, trade turnover has increased more than thirtyfold, and, for three consecutive years, it has consistently surpassed $200 billion... Financial settlements between our countries have been almost entirely converted to national currencies, and the share of transactions conducted in US dollars and euros has diminished to a negligible level... Major joint initiatives in peaceful nuclear energy are progressing successfully, including the construction of Russian-designed power units at the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant and the Xudapu Nuclear Power Plant. Agreed collaborative projects in the space sector and in satellite navigation are yielding tangible results. Cooperation in agriculture is deepening, with trade in agricultural commodities and foodstuffs on the rise... Transport connectivity is being steadfastly strengthened... We continue to jointly develop the Northern Sea Route.”
