CHINESE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER CALLS FOR GREATER REGIONAL COOPERATION BETWEEN CHINA AND RUSSIA

BEIJING, SEPTEMBER 4 /SRNA/ - China and Russia should strengthen synergies between the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Eurasian Economic Union, and further align the strategy for revitalizing northeastern China with Russia's strategy for developing the Far East, Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Ding Xuexiang said.

Ding said that, under the strategic guidance of the two countries' heads of state in recent years, regional cooperation between China and Russia, particularly between northeastern China and the Russian Far East, had achieved significant results. "China is the largest trading partner of the Russian Far East," Ding said, adding that key cooperation projects had progressed at an accelerated pace, and the two countries' visa-free policies had further boosted cross-border movement of people and trade in goods. He proposed that China and Russia remain focused on the needs of their populations, strengthen mutual support between their regions, develop industries with local characteristics, and ensure that the peoples of both countries derive more tangible benefits from development and revitalization, the China Media Group reported. He called on both sides to swiftly address the problems faced by businesses, maintain policy continuity and stability, and create favourable conditions for business development. Ding stressed that China and Russia should safeguard regional peace and stability, jointly uphold the goals and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as international fairness and justice, and oppose any attempt to challenge the outcome of the victory in the Second World War and the post-war international order. "China has the confidence, capacity and conditions to maintain stable and healthy economic development," Ding concluded, adding that China remains committed to expanding high-level opening-up and calls on foreign companies to continue investing their operations in China.