On November 23, 2010, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin co-chaired the 15th China-Russia Regular Prime Ministers' Meeting in St. Petersburg.
China-Russia ties have withstood harsh tests over the past years, Wen said. The two sides have deepened political and strategic mutual trust, made remarkable progress in cooperation in trade, energy, finance and cultural fields, and strengthened strategic coordination, he added. The above important outcomes were achieved while both countries were coping with the global financial crisis, which fully showed rich connotations and huge vigor of bilateral ties, he said.
Wen said China would adhere to the road of peaceful development and support Russia in its rejuvenation as a strong nation, adding that the modernization of China and Russia would not harm other nations' interests. Firm and strong China-Russia ties conform to the fundamental interests of both countries, and are also key guarantee for maintaining international strategic balance and boosting the progress and development of the world, Wen said. China is willing to conduct close coordination with Russia in major regional and international organizations and mechanisms so as to promote the stability and development of surrounding areas, boost the building of a new international political and economic order that is fair and rational, he said.
The Chinese premier meanwhile said that China and Russia are cooperating pragmatically in an all-around way, and that cooperation has a bright future. Besides energy cooperation, the two sides should also expand trade and investment and explore new cooperation fields, he said. China and Russia could carry out joint science and innovation cooperation, boost finance cooperation, regulate trade order and personnel exchanges, reasonably utilize resources, and protect the environment, he added. Both sides should also earnestly implement the outline of regional cooperation between Northeast China and the Russian Far East Area and Eastern Siberia. China is willing to actively participate in the construction of Russia's infrastructure and special economic zones, and work with the Russian side to boost sustainable development of both economies and their bilateral trade and economic ties, Wen said. Both sides should also further expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges and consolidate public support for bilateral ties, Wen said. The establishment of a subcommittee on youth cooperation will provide guarantee for regular youth exchanges between both countries. China will help the Russian youth learn the Chinese language and understand the Chinese culture, and more Russian students are welcome to study in China, he said.
Wen said the global financial crisis has a lasting and profound impact on the world political and economic pattern and therefore the development and changes of the situation will be more complex. As neighbors, both China and Russia are permanent members of the UN Security Council and important economies. They have the responsibility, capacity, and confidence to secure their common interests and promote world peace and development, he said. Next year will mark the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Russian Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, Wen said. Both sides should take the opportunity to lift their strategic partnership of coordination to a new level and promote the idea that the two nations should be friends instead of enemies from generation to generation, and should seek common development, Wen said.
Putin, for his part, said the Russia-China strategic partnership of coordination has developed in a comprehensive way over the past year, playing an important role in safeguarding regional and world peace, stability and development. Despite the impact of external circumstances, Russia and China have achieved rich fruits in exchanges and cooperation in economy, science and technology, education and culture, Putin said.
The successful holding of the Chinese Language Year in Russia and the Russian Language Year in China further cemented the social basis for friendship between the two nations, Putin said. Despite the impact of the global financial crisis, bilateral economic and trade ties have achieved rapid development with important breakthroughs made in cooperation in key areas and major projects. He said Russia is willing to expand cooperation with China in the fields of mechanical and electrical equipment and nuclear power. He said China's active participation is also welcome in Russia's privatization and special economic zone building, and his country hopes to strengthen cultural and regional cooperation with China. He expressed belief that with the joint efforts of both sides, China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination will become closer and more fruitful for the benefit of both peoples and will make new contributions to the world.
Wen and Putin listened to the working reports of the Sino-Russian Prime Ministers' regular meeting committee, China-Russia energy negotiations and the committee on China-Russia humanities cooperation. They also signed a joint communique on their meeting, witnessed the signing of several cooperation documents on economy, trade, energy, transport, finance and humanities, and held a joint press conference.
On the same day, Premier Wen also presented a flower basket at the Monument to Heroic Defenders of Leningrad.
Vice Premier Wang Qishan, also chairman of the Chinese side of the Sino-Russian Prime Ministers' regular meeting committee, and State Councilor Liu Yandong, also chair of the Chinese side of the committee on China-Russia humanities cooperation attended the above activities.