Opinion

Sino-Russian partnership boosts world stability

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-15 13:54

MOSCOW - The sound development of the China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation benefits not only the two peoples but also world peace, security and stability, a renowned Russian diplomat and sinologist says.

Former Russian ambassador to China Igor Rogachev made the comments in a written interview with Xinhua on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the historic Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between China and Russia.

Facing a host of new global challenges such as terrorism, social unrest, and ecological, humanitarian and energy crises, the two nations need to conduct closer strategic cooperation and jointly tackle them with swift and effective measures if necessary, said Rogachev, now a member of the Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament.

"The development of info technology also greatly changed our world. All the dynamic changes require closer strategic cooperation between the two countries," said the veteran diplomat, who is currently receiving medical treatment in Beijing.

He said he believes new mechanisms of emerging economies such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), would eventually help steer the world toward a multipolar era.

"These new organizations will help Russia and China, together with other countries, maintain stable development not only of our own countries, but also of the whole mankind," Rogachev said.

He hailed the fast-growing trade ties between the two sides, noting that China is already Russia's largest trading partner while more than 60 Russian federal entities forged commercial ties with Chinese provinces.

It has also been almost two years since the two countries approved a blueprint to further develop trade exchanges along their common border, the diplomat added.

A sinologist himself, Rogachev was excited to see the growing cultural and people-to-people ties between China and Russia, such as the recent successful launch of reciprocal national years and language years that helped to enhance trust and friendship between the two peoples.

"We have taken an important step forward in strengthening the principle of 'Russia and China are friends forever and will never become enemies.' The top leaders of our countries have agreed to follow this positive practice and find new themes for cooperation," he said, adding that it is also important to get more people, companies, scientific and cultural research centers and educational institutions involved in such events.

The diplomat said he has every reason to believe in a better future for the bilateral relationship, given the fruitful two-way cooperation over the past decade and the huge potential to expand the China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation under the friendship treaty.