President Xi: Maintaining, Consolidating And Developing China-Russia Relations Is A Strategic Choice

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing November 4. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

JAKARTA - President Xi Jinping said maintaining, consolidating and developing Chinese-Russian relations was a strategic choice for the two countries when they received Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing on Tuesday.

The Kremlin highlighted the importance of PM Mishustin's visit at a time when Russia was under major Western sanctions over its war in Ukraine and sought to stem the recent slowdown in trade with China.

"Chinese-Russian relations remain on track towards higher-level and quality development, continuing to advance despite the volatile external environment," President Xi told PM Mishustin.

"Maintaining, consolidating and developing Chinese-Russian relations is a strategic choice for both parties," Xi said.

President Xi further highlighted industries such as energy, agriculture, aerospace, the digital economy and green development where the two countries can advance cooperation and encourage new growth machines.

Meanwhile, PM Mishustin said it was important for both sides to continue to create favorable conditions to attract joint investment and support joint projects, according to Russia's TASS news agency.

PM Mishustin met President Xi the day after he met Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang in Hangzhou. There, PM Li said China wanted to strengthen cooperation with Russia and maintain common security interests.

It is known that President Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a "infinity" partnership in February 2022, days before the Russian-Ukraine war broke out.

Since then, Russia has turned to China to reduce the impact of sanctions, highlighting trade records, increased settlements in yuan, and deepening energy cooperation.

However, bilateral trade has declined in recent months as China is facing increasing US pressure over trade and technology.

Chinese state-owned major oil companies have suspended purchases of Russian oil transported by sea following US sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil, Moscow's two largest oil companies, Reuters reported last month.

In a joint communication published on the Russian Government website on Tuesday, the two countries agreed to "strengthen cooperation in all fields and respond appropriately to external challenges."

Russia also reaffirmed its compliance with the principle of "one China" and opposed "Taiwan independence".

China considers Taiwan to be democratically ruled as part of its territory. The Taiwanese government rejects Beijing's claims and says only the island's people can determine their future.