Photo: VCG

Russian President Vladimir Putin's positive statement on China-Russia relations once again shows that Russia, especially Putin himself, attaches great importance to the development of relations with China, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Friday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the regular press conference on Friday, Zhao told the media that Putin's comment once again demonstrated that the two countries are each other's strategic anchor and diplomatic priority, which China highly appreciates.

Zhao emphasized that China and Russia are neighbors that cannot be moved, and true partners that cannot be dismantled or crushed.

On Thursday, Putin said that certain Western countries aspired to drive a wedge between Russia and China, Russia in response would continue to expand cooperation and coordinate their actions in the international arena, Russian news agency TASS reported. Putin confirmed that Moscow and Beijing would continue to boost friendly partnership ties.

The Russian president emphasized that the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination can be called a model of efficient cooperation between countries in the 21st century, media reports said.

China-Russia relations are and will always be based on the principles of equal treatment, a high degree of mutual trust, and safeguarding each other's core interests, Zhao said.

In the joint statement on the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation issued by the two heads of state in June this year, the two sides clearly reiterated that Russia needs a prosperous and stable China, and China needs a strong and successful Russia, Zhao further noted.

The development of a high-level strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries is a long-term strategic choice based on their respective national conditions.

The two sides will continue in firmly supporting each other, rejecting external sabotage and intervention, preserving their respective sovereignty, security and development rights, and safeguarding their shared interests.

Zhao said that both sides will follow the general direction of the two countries' leaders and jointly build a new type of major power relationship that transcends ideological and historical and cultural differences, and promotes the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.

The bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation between China and Russia has become more extensive and in-depth.

In the first three quarters of this year, the China-Russia bilateral trade volume reached $102 billion, a year-on-year increase of 29.2 percent and the first time in history that it has exceeded the $100 billion mark in first three quarters.

Judging from the current situation, the scale of China-Russia trade in 2021 will hit a record high, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce Shu Jueting stated at a regular press conference on October 28.