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Xi gets grand welcome in Russia, urges closer ties on foreign policy
Source: Agencies |
March 23, 2013, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Chinese President Xi Jinping, in Moscow for his first foreign trip, urged Russia to work closely with China to strengthen mutual political support and safeguard national sovereignty, security and development.
Xi, who became president last week, was greeted by Russian President Vladimir Putin at a grandiose reception that saw guards on horseback for the first time welcoming a foreign leader.
Kremlin guards snapped at attention as Xi walked into the gilded, chandeliered Grand Kremlin Palace.
Putin greeted Xi with a firm handshake and a grin. The two leaders greeted members of official delegations in the ornate St George Hall before sitting down for talks.
"Russian-Chinese relations are a very important factor in world politics," Putin said at the start of talks during which they sat in gold-trimmed chairs.
"I am certain your visit will give Russian-Chinese ties a new and powerful impulse," he added.
Xi said in turn that the relations between the two countries are at the best ever.
The Chinese president told Putin: "I get the impression that you and I always treat each other with an open soul, our characters are alike. We always speak in a good manner, you and I are good friends."
Putin told the ITAR-Tass news agency in an interview yesterday that Xi's choice of Moscow for his first trip abroad underscored the "special nature of strategic partnership" between the two countries.
"We are working together, helping to shape a new, more just world order, ensure peace and security, defend basic principles of international law," Putin said.
He added that Russia and China have set an example of a "balanced and pragmatic approach" to international crises.
Xi told Putin that he expects Russia to "strengthen coordination and interaction in tackling international and regional issues to ensure our common strategic security."
"We must make the emphasis on further increasing our mutual political support and resolutely back each other's efforts to protect its sovereignty, security and development interests," Xi said.
Xi has met Putin before, including in Moscow.
Xi's visit is expected to be crowned with deals that will make China Russia's top customer for oil, although a long-sought agreement on supplies of pipeline gas to China is unlikely to be signed.
China has looked to secure energy supplies from Russia, the world's biggest energy producer, as part of a strategy to reduce its dependence on sea routes.
Russia, in turn, is interested in securing a share of China's giant energy market, but talks on a major new pipeline to China have dragged on for years amid fierce price disputes.
Bilateral trade has been steadily growing, reaching US$88 billion last year, still a fraction of China's trade with the United States and the European Union.
In another sign of the leaders' intentions, just before Xi's arrival in Moscow, a US$2 billion deal was announced by Russian and Chinese companies to develop coal resources in eastern Siberia.
Later in the day, Xi and Putin attended the opening ceremony of the "Tourism Year of China" in Russia.
The "China-Russia Tourism Year," which began last year with the "Tourism Year of Russia" in China, is the third theme year following the "China-Russia National Year" and the "China-Russia Year of Language" held in recent years.
During his visit, Xi will also meet Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and other Russian leaders.
Xi, who became president last week, was greeted by Russian President Vladimir Putin at a grandiose reception that saw guards on horseback for the first time welcoming a foreign leader.
Kremlin guards snapped at attention as Xi walked into the gilded, chandeliered Grand Kremlin Palace.
Putin greeted Xi with a firm handshake and a grin. The two leaders greeted members of official delegations in the ornate St George Hall before sitting down for talks.
"Russian-Chinese relations are a very important factor in world politics," Putin said at the start of talks during which they sat in gold-trimmed chairs.
"I am certain your visit will give Russian-Chinese ties a new and powerful impulse," he added.
Xi said in turn that the relations between the two countries are at the best ever.
The Chinese president told Putin: "I get the impression that you and I always treat each other with an open soul, our characters are alike. We always speak in a good manner, you and I are good friends."
Putin told the ITAR-Tass news agency in an interview yesterday that Xi's choice of Moscow for his first trip abroad underscored the "special nature of strategic partnership" between the two countries.
"We are working together, helping to shape a new, more just world order, ensure peace and security, defend basic principles of international law," Putin said.
He added that Russia and China have set an example of a "balanced and pragmatic approach" to international crises.
Xi told Putin that he expects Russia to "strengthen coordination and interaction in tackling international and regional issues to ensure our common strategic security."
"We must make the emphasis on further increasing our mutual political support and resolutely back each other's efforts to protect its sovereignty, security and development interests," Xi said.
Xi has met Putin before, including in Moscow.
Xi's visit is expected to be crowned with deals that will make China Russia's top customer for oil, although a long-sought agreement on supplies of pipeline gas to China is unlikely to be signed.
China has looked to secure energy supplies from Russia, the world's biggest energy producer, as part of a strategy to reduce its dependence on sea routes.
Russia, in turn, is interested in securing a share of China's giant energy market, but talks on a major new pipeline to China have dragged on for years amid fierce price disputes.
Bilateral trade has been steadily growing, reaching US$88 billion last year, still a fraction of China's trade with the United States and the European Union.
In another sign of the leaders' intentions, just before Xi's arrival in Moscow, a US$2 billion deal was announced by Russian and Chinese companies to develop coal resources in eastern Siberia.
Later in the day, Xi and Putin attended the opening ceremony of the "Tourism Year of China" in Russia.
The "China-Russia Tourism Year," which began last year with the "Tourism Year of Russia" in China, is the third theme year following the "China-Russia National Year" and the "China-Russia Year of Language" held in recent years.
During his visit, Xi will also meet Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and other Russian leaders.
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