President Putin: Russia and China have similar views on key issues

According to RIA Novosti on May 15, before his visit to Beijing, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave an interview to Xinhua News Agency (China).

President Putin said that Moscow and Beijing have "similar or overlapping views" on important issues on the international agenda. They support the supremacy of international law, equal, indivisible and comprehensive security at the global and regional levels, as well as the rule of law with the central coordinating role of the United Nations.

"We reject Western attempts to impose order, based on lies and hypocrisy, on fantastic rules invented by someone unknown," the Russian leader said.

President Putin highly appreciated China's proposal to resolve the crisis in Ukraine. The solution proposed by Beijing could become the basis for a political and diplomatic process.

"The practical and constructive steps proposed by Beijing will help achieve peace through the rejection of selfish pursuit of interests and the constant escalation of tensions, through minimizing the negative impact of conflicts on the global economy, and the stability of global industrial supply chains," President Putin said.

Regarding bilateral trade between Russia and China, President Putin said that bilateral trade now amounts to about 20 trillion rubles, equivalent to nearly 1.6 trillion yuan. China has been Russia's main business partner for 13 years, and Russia immediately rose to fourth place in the list of China's trade partners.

President Putin added that Russia aims to become one of the four largest economies in the world, with quality and efficiency of development in all areas and welfare growth for the people being of utmost importance.

Giving a general assessment of his visit to Beijing, President Putin said that every meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping was an exchange of views on current issues; the Chinese leader has an open communication style and a business spirit.

"President Xi Jinping has an open, respectful and friendly style of communication, and this is also true at work. Each of our talks is not just a meeting between long-time friends, but something more important - an exchange of views on the most pressing issues on the bilateral and international agenda," President Putin emphasized.

Explaining how to define relations with China, President Putin affirmed that the relationship between Russia and China is determined by the desire to build a fair world order and prosperous development./.

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