Russian-Chinese global cooperation is like a 'rock amid a fast flowing stream' — Putin

MOSCOW/BEIJING, March 20. Russia and China closely cooperate on the international arena jointly fighting common threats by ‘building bridges’ and standing shoulder to shoulder like a ‘rock amid a fast flowing stream,’ President Vladimir Putin said in an article for People’s Daily newspaper.

"Unlike some countries claiming hegemony and bringing discord to the global harmony, Russia and China are literally and figuratively building bridges," Putin said in the article published ahead of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia.

"Last year our border regions were connected by two new bridge crossings over the Amur river, which has been a ‘river of friendship’ since time immemorial," he stated.

"Amidst the ‘waves and winds’ that sweep the planet, we closely cooperate in international affairs and effectively coordinate our foreign policy positions, counter common threats, and respond to current challenges, standing shoulder to shoulder as a ‘rock amid a fast flowing stream’," the Russian president said.

"We actively promote democratic multilateral structures such as the SCO [the Shanghai Cooperation Organization] and BRICS [Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa], which become more and more authoritative and influential and attract new partners and friends," Putin continued. "The work aimed at coordinating the development of the Eurasian Economic Union with the One Belt, One Road Initiative also goes in this vein."

"We can feel the geopolitical landscape in the outside world change dramatically," he said. "Sticking more stubbornly than ever to its obsolete dogmata and vanishing dominance, the ‘Collective West’ is gambling on the fates of entire states and peoples."

"The US's policy of simultaneously deterring Russia and China, as well as all those who do not bend to the American dictation, is getting ever more fierce and aggressive. The international security and cooperation architecture is being dismantled. Russia has been labelled an ‘immediate threat’ and China a ‘strategic competitor’," said the Russian president.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters last week that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will hold negotiations in Moscow on March 21, with statements to the media expected afterwards.

Earlier, Moscow and Beijing announced that Xi Jinping would make an official visit to Russia on March 20-22. According to the Kremlin, negotiations will include discussion of "current issues of further development of relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China."

The sides also plan to exchange opinions within the context of deepening Russian-Chinese cooperation on the international arena. The sides are expected to sign a number of important bilateral documents.

Origin: https://bit.ly/3Tuj9ud