Events

Valentina Matvienko: Russia and China are building a strategic partnership to create a new type of relationship in the 21st century

The Federation Council Speaker met with the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the PRC.


Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko met with Chairman of the Standing Committee of the PRC National People’s Congress (NPC) Li Zhanshu. A parliamentary delegation from the People’s Republic of China is now on an official visit to Russia.

Valentina Matvienko noted the importance of Li Zhanshu’s participation in the Eastern Economic Forum that recently ended in Vladivostok and his meeting with President of Russia Vladimir Putin.

The Federation Council Speaker emphasised that the Russian Far East is important for bilateral cooperation as a natural territory of interaction.

“In this time of irreversible tectonic upheaval that the entire system of international relations is going through today, our line of strengthening the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation with China has remained unchanged. This policy enjoys broad support from Russian citizens,” said Valentina Matvienko.

In her opinion, the key to success for Russia and China lies in the development of mutually beneficial cooperation – a regular and meaningful dialogue between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of China Xi Jinping, as well as deep mutual political trust.

“This is a truly strategic partnership, the main goal of which is not to preserve monopoly positions, a strategy of the past that the West still uses. It is aimed at creating a new kind of relationship between states in the 21st century,” Ms Matvienko said.

She noted that the Western countries are trying to maintain their receding domination in global politics and the economy. In the process, the United States has adopted a course of suppressing independence. “They decided to turn Ukraine into a threat for Russia. The same US policy can be seen in the situation around Taiwan, in the context of plans to supply the island with arms and with visits by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Congressional figures,” emphasised Valentina Matvienko. “We consider these visits to be planned provocations,” she added.

Ms Matvienko said Russia’s position of principle on the Taiwan issue remains unchanged – there is only one China and the PRC government is the only legal government of the entire country, and that Taiwan is an integral part of China.

According to Valentina Matvienko, the parliaments of Russia and China have a special mission on adapting legislation to the rapidly changing global conditions.

“I am sure that the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and China’s National People’s Congress have many opportunities for exchanging experience on countering new challenges and threats,” she said.

In this context, Ms Matvienko noted that the efficiency of the Inter-Parliamentary Commission on Cooperation between the Russian Federal Assembly and China’s NPC is growing with every year. It resolves issues on the legislative regulation of energy and natural resources, environmental protection and digital security, to name a few.

Valentina Matvienko considers it important to ensure transactions in national currencies. She recalled that Gazprom and its Chinese partners decided to use the rouble and the yuan in a fifty-fifty ratio for gas supply payments. “Now 25 percent of Russian-Chinese transactions are made in roubles and yuans. I believe we will build up this trend in our interests, which will considerably protect our independence against the interference of third countries in our financial system.”

According to Ms Matvienko, the bilateral youth agenda is making steady headway. She referred to the contacts between the Chamber of Young Legislators at the Federation Council and China’s NPC. “We hope they will hold a regular joint meeting this year,” she said.

Valentina Matvienko reported that cooperation between Russia’s regions and China’s provinces is a priority for the Federation Council as the chamber of the regions. “We understand the importance of inter-regional cooperation for promoting our joint efforts in all areas,” she said.

Ms Matvienko noted the significance of cultural cooperation. She added that after a pause caused by the pandemic, the two countries are resuming the practice of exchanging cultural festivals, which have become brand projects that attract much public attention in both countries.

Regarding cooperation in higher education, Valentina Matvienko described the joint efforts by the relevant agencies of both states to return Russian students to China for full-time studies at Chinese universities.

“We are also prepared to increase the quota for Chinese students at Russian universities if this is of interest,” she said. The Federation Council Speaker thanked Chinese friends for promoting the study of the Russian language.

In turn, Li Zhanshu noted the successful development of bilateral relations in many areas. He emphasised the importance of the growing trade between the two countries, which is gradually approaching the goal set by the two presidents – $200 billion by 2024.

Li Zhanshu thanked his Russian colleagues for supporting the one-China principle on the Taiwan issue and noted that unilateral actions, hegemony and domination are destroying the foundations of international relations. Li Zhanshu criticised the abuse of the unilateral sanctions, the exterritorial use of law, as well as threats and blackmail.

The Chairman of the Standing Committee of the PRC National People’s Congress said that under the complicated international situation, our high level of cooperation has demonstrated enormous inner strength.

The event was attended by Federation Council Deputy Speaker Konstantin Kosachev, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin and senators of the Russian Federation Vladimir Dzhabarov, Vladimir Gorodetskiy, Irina Rukavishnikova and Ivan Abramov.

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