Constructive and unifying agenda shows how countries can get along: China Daily editorial

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to China on Monday and Tuesday looks set to further coordinate the two countries' positions on key issues.

However, interpreting Lavrov's visit to China on Monday and Tuesday as an emergency response to the high-level meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, between China and the United States at the end of last week is wide of the mark.

Even though what was discussed in Anchorage will naturally be brought up in Lavrov's meeting with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the two foreign ministers have a much bigger agenda to work through than just the US' current distress.

The interaction between Russia and China is not subject to any opportunistic factors nor does it target any third country.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. Over the past two decades, the two countries have not only become truly strategic partners, but also key promoters of a fairer international order based on the Charter of the United Nations.

As Wang said, the example of strategic mutual trust the two countries have set for the world by firmly supporting each other in upholding their core and major interests, jointly opposing "color revolutions" and countering disinformation, as well as safeguarding national sovereignty and political security should be heeded by other countries, if they really want to stand together to resolve the common challenges confronting the world.

In contrast, the divisiveness intrinsic to the US approach to shaping the world order, which stresses hegemony, unilateralism and cliques, is the root cause of the international community being unable to unite to address the dire threats that now beset the world.

That China and Russia have agreed to renew the treaty and further consolidate their friendly and good neighborly ties and strengthen their cooperation conforms to the fundamental interests of the peoples of the two countries and is conducive to them working in accord to maintain peace, security and stability in Asia and the world. It once again demonstrates the sustainability and vitality of their cooperation.

By further tapping the potential of synergizing the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union, upgrading trade and economic investment and cooperation, and expanding collaboration in innovation, the digital economy and other emerging sectors, the two countries can promote shared development.

And by carrying forward the spirit of everlasting friendship and win-win cooperation embodied in the treaty, they can generate new dynamism and further expand, and deepen the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in a new era.