Joint statement between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation on deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.
At the invitation of President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation conducted a state visit to the People’s Republic of China from May 16 to 17, 2024. The presidents of China and Russia signed a joint statement in Beijing on May 16, 2024.
While in Beijing, Xi and Putin signed a lengthy joint statement, which when translated into English amounts to roughly 8000 words.
The document is available in Chinese and Russian on the websites of the respective governments, but to date no official English translation has been provided by the parties. The extracts below are from an unofficial English translation of the full text of the historic document, prepared by Geopolitical Economy Report. ______________________________________________________________________________
Both sides declare (among other things) as follows to:
Part 3
Energy
- Continuously consolidate China-Russia strategic energy cooperation and achieve high-level development, ensuring the economic and energy security of both countries. Strive to ensure the stability and sustainability of the international energy market, and maintain the stability and resilience of the global energy industry and supply chains. Conduct cooperation in areas such as oil, natural gas, liquefied natural gas, coal, and electricity based on market principles, ensure the stable operation of relevant cross-border infrastructure, and ensure smooth energy transportation. Jointly promote the implementation of large-scale energy projects by Chinese and Russian enterprises, and deepen cooperation in prospective areas such as renewable energy, hydrogen energy, and carbon markets.
- Based on successful and ongoing project experiences, deepen cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy according to the principles of mutual benefit and balanced interests, including thermonuclear fusion, fast neutron reactors, and closed nuclear fuel cycles, and explore package cooperation on the front end of the nuclear fuel cycle and joint construction of nuclear power plants.
Agriculture
- Unlock the enormous potential for cooperation in the agricultural sector, expand mutual market access for agricultural products of the two countries, increase the trade level of soybeans and their products, pork, aquatic products, grains, oils, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other agricultural and food products. Deepen agricultural investment cooperation, and continue to study the establishment of China-Russia agricultural cooperation pilot demonstration zones in the Russian Far East and other regions.
Environmental Protection
- Deepen environmental protection cooperation, strengthen cooperation in areas such as transboundary water body protection, emergency contact for environmental pollution, biodiversity protection, and solid waste treatment.
- Continue close cooperation to improve the environmental quality of the border areas between the two countries.
Belt and Road Initiative
- Continue to strengthen cooperation, implement the “Agreement on Economic and Trade Cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and the Eurasian Economic Union” signed on May 17, 2018, promote the alignment of the “Belt and Road” initiative with the construction of the Eurasian Economic Union, and deepen comprehensive cooperation and connectivity in the Eurasian region.
- Continue to implement the consensus of the two heads of state on the parallel and coordinated development of the “Belt and Road” initiative and the “Greater Eurasian Partnership,” creating conditions for the independent and steady development of the economies and societies of Eurasian countries.
Part 6
BRICS Cooperation and Multilateralism
- China fully supports Russia’s chairmanship of the BRICS Summit in 2024 and the successful hosting of the 16th BRICS Leaders’ Summit.
- Both sides are willing to work with other BRICS member countries to implement the consensus reached at previous BRICS Leaders’ Summits, promote the integration of new members into existing BRICS cooperation mechanisms, and explore modes of cooperation among BRICS partner countries. They will continue to uphold the BRICS spirit, enhance the influence of the BRICS mechanism in international affairs and agenda-setting, actively engage in “BRICS+” cooperation, and dialogue with BRICS outreach partners.
- Both sides will promote the enhancement of cooperation among BRICS countries on the international stage, including strengthening cooperation in trade, digital economy, and public health fields among BRICS countries, and effectively promoting dialogue on the use of local currencies, payment instruments, and platforms for BRICS trade transactions.
- Both sides believe that the role of UNESCO as a universal platform for intergovernmental human exchange should be further strengthened, promoting professional dialogue based on mutual respect on this platform, facilitating efficient communication among member states, reaching consensus, and enhancing solidarity.
- Both sides highly appreciate the constructive cooperation between China and Russia within the G20 and reaffirm their willingness to further strengthen cooperation under this mechanism. They will promote the construction of an inclusive global economy within this mechanism, take balanced and consensual actions to address prominent economic and financial challenges, promote the development of the global governance system towards greater justice, and enhance the representation of “global South” countries in the global economic governance system. Both sides welcome the African Union’s membership in the G20 and are willing to make constructive efforts for the common interests of emerging markets and developing countries.
- Both sides will continue to engage in close and mutually beneficial cooperation within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), promote the comprehensive and balanced implementation of the Bogor Goals, and advance the building of an Asia-Pacific community. To this end, both sides are willing to further promote common principles, promote the construction of an open world economy, advance the process of Asia-Pacific regional economic integration, facilitate trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, ensure the stability and smooth operation of cross-border industrial and supply chains in the Asia-Pacific region, promote digital transformation, green transformation, and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region, and benefit the people of the region.
- Russia highly appreciates the Global Development Initiative and will continue to participate in the work of the “Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative.” Both sides will continue to focus the international community on development issues, increase development inputs, deepen pragmatic cooperation, and accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Part 8
Climate Change, Biodiversity and Fukushima Nuclear Contamination
- Both sides, in response to climate change, reaffirm their commitment to the objectives, principles, and institutional framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement, especially the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. They emphasize the crucial importance of financial support from developed countries to developing countries for mitigating global average temperature rise and adapting to the adverse effects of global climate change. Both sides oppose the use of climate change as a pretext to erect trade barriers or link climate issues to international peace and security threats.
- Both sides commend the “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework” adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, chaired by China, and are willing to promote harmonious development between humans and nature to contribute to global sustainable development.
- Both sides are determined to intensify efforts to control plastic pollution, based on respect for each country’s national conditions and sovereignty, and to work with all parties to develop legally binding documents to address environmental pollution caused by plastic waste, including marine pollution.
- Both sides express serious concern about Japan’s discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean, urging Japan to dispose of Fukushima’s nuclear contaminated water in a responsible manner, subject to strict international monitoring, and to respect the requests of relevant countries for independent monitoring.
The video linked below by Geopolitical Economy Report is around 50 minutes long and covers all areas of joint statement by China and Russia. It is possible to view individual sections of the video as follows:
Source: Geopolitical Economy Report, May 26, 2024. https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/05/25/china-russia-west-neocolonialism-us-militarism/
Author: Ben Norton – investigative journalist and analyst and editor of Geopolitical Economy Report. He previously lived in and reported from Latin America, and is now based in Beijing, China