Future-Oriented Ties

New Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow, his maiden overseas trip since he was elected earlier in March during the country’s once-a-decade leadership transition, was widely seen as a testament to the robust strategic partnership of coordination between China and Russia. It also provided an opportunity for the two neighbors to ponder the future and raise their bilateral relationship to a new high.

Both Xi and Russian President vladimir Putin reaffirmed their commitment to a strong political bond. After experiencing ups and downs over the past six decades, the Sino-Russian relationship has moved into an unprecedented stage in which the two countries share common aspirations for development as well as for a fairer and more equitable international order,concepts that feature prominently in their respective foreign policies. Given these essential strategic agreements, bilateral relations have enjoyed uninterrupted growth in recent years. The fact that Russia was the first country Xi visited after taking office once again underscores the special significance of the two countries’ partnership.

This partnership, however, should not be interpreted from a Cold War perspective. It is special precisely because the two countries have done away with a Cold War mentality in a bid to forge a forward-looking relationship aimed at delivering benefits to their peoples and promoting global justice.

As they translate political will into concrete actions, their cooperation has flourished across the board. On a bilateral level, China and Russia have set about upgrading their collaboration with a focus on burgeoning areas such as cutting-edge aviation and space technology, building upon accomplishments in a wide range of sectors, most notably energy. Likewise, in the international arena, their coordination on hotspot issues, including the Syrian crisis and nuclear issues in Iran and North Korea, has helped boost efforts to seek more balanced solutions.

The future of this dynamic partnership lies in the hands of their peoples.One of the highlights of Xi’s visit was the inauguration of the Year of Chinese Tourism in Russia, an event designed to familiarize everyday Russians with China. As the Chinese and Russians recognize the importance of becoming lasting friends, Sino-Russian ties are bound to scale new heights.■