Zhao Lijian

China highly appreciates the positive statement made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that China-Russia relations are a model for relations between countries in the 21st century, reflecting the high level of consensus between Russia and China on the development of relations between the two countries, China's Foreign Ministry said at Thursday's media briefing.

According to Russian State Duma, Lavrov said on Wednesday that the Russia-China strategic partnership in some respects has reached a more advanced level than even the traditional military-political alliance, which could be a good example of development of interstate relations in the 21st century. 

"[The West] is trying, as they say, to punish those who pursue an independent policy, primarily our country and the People's Republic of China, using all variety of unsuitable tools such as various sanctions, demonization in the media space, provocations by special services and much more," he said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian stressed at a conference that there is no cap on mutual trust between China and Russia, no forbidden areas for strategic cooperation and no end to friendship for generations of the two countries.

The two countries consider each other as their diplomatic priorities, which a strategic choice based on their long-term development, with the fundamental aim of benefiting the two countries' peoples and maintaining world peace and stability, international justice and equity, Zhao noted.

Zhao pointed out that the China-Russia relationship is a true example of a new type of a major-country relationship. China and Russia are not interested in the Cold War mentality of either friend or foe and the so-called "alliances" and "small circles" cobbled together on the basis of selfish interests. Any attempt to demonize and provoke trouble is doomed to fail.

"We are ready to continue working with Russia to move forward firmly in the direction outlined by our two heads of state, to fully unleash the huge potential and advantages of cooperation between the two countries, injecting more stability and positive energy into the turbulent and changing world," Zhao noted.

Global Times