Russia and China are strengthening bilateral cooperation on several fronts to advance the agreements reached between the two countries in March, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin (R) said Wednesday in Beijing, where he met with Chinese Premier Li Quang (pictured). Pool Photo by Thomas Peter/EPA-EFE
May 24 (UPI) — Russia and China are strengthening bilateral cooperation on several fronts to combat the accords between the two countries, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said Wednesday in Beijing.
Mishustin signed several documents during the trip to formalize the agreements reached earlier this year between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The agreements call for closer ties between the two countries when it comes to investment in trade, agricultural exports and sports.
“Decisions made by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping set strategic starting points for strengthening cooperation in eight priority areas,” Mishustin said during a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Li Qiang. This was reported by the TASS news agency.
“The governments of Russia and China have begun coordinated efforts to implement the agreements reached at the highest level.”
Mishustin said on Tuesday that trade between the two countries has increased to 200 billion dollars this year. USD, and last year – from 190 billion.
The prime minister said the two countries would work together to push back against other countries with sanctions to “impose their will”.
Xi traveled to Moscow in March for a face-to-face meeting with Putin, where both sides agreed on closer cooperation. At the time, Xi also talked about brokering a ceasefire in Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
The issue was not mentioned during Mishustin’s trip to Beijing on Wednesday.
“We hope that both sides will continue to take advantage of … the strong momentum of China-Russia cooperation, strengthen cooperation in various fields … a new era,” Xi told Mishustin during their meeting, according to the state-run Xinhua News Agency.
“China is ready to cooperate with Russia and the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union to promote and integrate the Belt and Road Initiative with the union, to create and build a larger regional market, to ensure a more stable and robust global supply chain, [we can] to bring real and tangible benefits to the countries of the region”.
