Reciprocal neighbors
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The remarks made by Premier Wen Jiabao after his arrival in St. Petersburg in Russia on Monday evening pointed to the significance of his two-day official visit to the northern neighbor. "I hope to inject new vigor into the comprehensive deepening of the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of coordination through my visit," he said.
Wen's Russia visit has come at a time when the relationship between Beijing and Moscow is in the best shape in history, with enhanced cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels. Thanks to their mutual efforts, bilateral cooperation in such fields as trade, energy and culture has been growing steadily.
In the world arena, the two countries are working together in all the major international platforms and mechanisms to address international challenges and promote multi-polarization and a more reasonable and just international order.
It is no exaggeration to say that Sino-Russian ties are a good example of mutual political trust based on mutual respect for each other's major concerns. Such a relationship is a blessing to both countries, and to the world at large, as they bring real benefits to the two nations and contribute to world peace and global development.
As next year marks the 10th anniversary since the signing of Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, Wen's Russia trip presents a good opportunity for the two sides to look back at their past achievements and determine their priorities for the future.
For bilateral economic cooperation, Wen and his Russian counterpart Prime Minister Vladimir Putin witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation agreements in such sectors as trade, high-tech, energy, agriculture and finance on Tuesday.
Developing robust trade ties with each other is the top priority for both countries. Bilateral trade between the two soared to $45.1 billion this year, a 43.4 percent increase over the same period last year. It is very likely to rise to over $50 billion by the year end, rebounding to the pre-economic crisis level.
China, under the principle of mutual and market-oriented benefits, is ready to expand bilateral cooperation into such fields as oil, natural gas, nuclear power and new energy.
Healthy and growing Sino-Russian trade ties will build new momentum into the economic development of both nations and benefit the world economic recovery as well.
Wen and the Russian government have also reviewed achievements in bilateral cultural cooperation and exchanges and discussed ways of expanding collaboration in this field.
China and Russia have successfully staged reciprocal national years and language years in each other's country. Such activities have proven to be instrumental in deepening the mutual understanding between the two peoples and ensuring the handing down of Sino-Russian friendship from generation to generation.
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