Breakdown of Outcomes from Li Qiang's Russia Visit
Hi folks,
I am doing a brief edition today only focussing on Li Qiang’s visit to Russia. You can find below a breakdown of the reporting and the joint communique that was issued following the visit.
Cheers,
Manoj
On the front page, there is a report on Li Qiang’s meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Xinhua reports:
“The steady development of China-Russia relations not only serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples, but also contributes to regional and world peace, stability and prosperity, Li noted, expressing China’s willingness to work with Russia to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, maintain the sound momentum of the development of bilateral relations, expand all-round mutually beneficial cooperation and achieve more practical results. Li pointed out that the current round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is deepening, which implies huge development opportunities. China is ready to further highlight the role of scientific, technological and industrial innovation in powering bilateral cooperation with Russia, to constantly foster new economic growth points, he added. The two sides should continue to deepen cultural, tourism, education, youth and sub-national exchanges and cooperation to promote mutual understanding between the two peoples and pass on the cause of China-Russia friendship from generation to generation, Li said. Against the backdrop of accelerating changes in the world unseen in a century, China is ready to work with Russia to further strengthen multilateral coordination, deepen mutual trust and cooperation with developing countries, firmly promote a multi-polar world and economic globalization, and better safeguard its legitimate rights and interests and basic norms governing international relations.”
The report on Li’s discussions with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin as part of the 29th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government is on Page 2. Xinhua’s report says:
“Li and Mishustin listened to the work reports from the two sides’ representatives of the China-Russia investment cooperation committee, the China-Russia energy cooperation committee, the committee for the regular meetings between Chinese and Russian heads of government, the intergovernmental commission for cooperation of Northeast China and the Far East of Russia, and the China-Russia committee on humanities cooperation. They fully affirmed the work of the various committees of the two sides over the past year, and agreed that China and Russia have complementary advantages and huge potential for practical cooperation, calling on the two sides to further optimize the cooperation structure, steadily advance cooperation in traditional areas such as economy and trade, investment, agriculture and energy, and expand cooperation in emerging areas including digital economy, biomedicine and green development. They agreed that the two countries should take the China-Russia Years of Culture as an opportunity to deepen people-to-people exchanges, consolidate popular support for friendship, constantly strengthen the internal driving force of bilateral cooperation, and improve the quality and efficiency of cooperation.”
In terms of outcomes, there was a joint communique, a new version of the outline of the China-Russia investment cooperation plan, and documents related to green construction, maritime search and rescue, cross-border cargo transport and facilitation of citizen exchanges.
Also on the second page is the full text of the joint communique. Key excerpts:
“China-Russia relations are based on non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party. Consolidating China-Russia relations is a strategic choice made by the two sides based on the broad common and fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples; ties are not affected by the changing international situation. The two sides shall firmly defend their legitimate rights and interests and oppose any attempt to obstruct the normal development of bilateral relations, interfere in the internal affairs of the two countries, and restrict the economic, technological and international space of the two countries.” 双方指出，中俄关系具有不结盟、不对抗、不针对第三国的性质。巩固中俄关系是双方基于两国和两国人民广泛共同的根本利益作出的战略选择，不受国际风云变幻影响。双方坚决捍卫自身合法权益，反对任何阻挠两国关系正常发展，干涉两国内部事务，限制两国经济、技术、国际空间的企图.
The two sides will continue to comprehensively deepen cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, energy, finance, science and technology, culture and local areas in accordance with the consensus reached by the two heads of state, work together to enhance the stability of pragmatic cooperation, and jointly promote the comprehensive, mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries to a new level. 双方将按照两国元首达成的共识，继续全面深化经贸、投资、能源、金融、科技、人文和地方等领域合作，共同努力提升务实合作的稳定性，协同推动两国全方位互利合作迈上新台阶.
The Russian side reiterated its adherence to the One-China principle, acknowledging that there is only one China in the world, that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing all of China. The Russian side firmly opposes any form of ‘Taiwan independence’ and strongly supports China in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and in achieving national reunification. The Chinese side supports Russia in maintaining its national security, stability, development, prosperity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and opposes external forces’ interference in Russia’s internal affairs. 俄方重申恪守一个中国原则，承认世界上只有一个中国，台湾是中国领土不可分割的一部分，中华人民共和国政府是代表全中国的唯一合法政府。俄方坚决反对任何形式的“台湾独立”，坚定支持中方维护本国主权和领土完整、实现国家统一。中方支持俄方维护本国安全稳定、发展繁荣、主权和领土完整，反对外部势力干涉俄罗斯内政.
The two sides agreed that the UN Charter, international law and basic norms governing international relations should be fully observed to promote the formation of a more just and stable multipolar world. The two sides pointed out that some countries, clinging to hegemonism and neo-colonialism, are attempting to use the so-called ‘rules-based order’ to maintain their own privileges, infringe on the sovereignty of other nations, interfere in their internal affairs, stifle their economic growth and technological development, and hinder the collective rise of emerging markets and developing countries. 双方一致认为，应全面遵守《联合国宪章》、国际法和国际关系基本准则，推动形成更加公正稳定的多极化世界格局。双方指出，某些国家抱守霸权主义和新殖民主义，企图利用所谓“基于规则的秩序”维护自身特权、侵犯他国主权、干涉他国内政、遏制他国经济增长和科技发展、阻碍新兴市场国家和发展中国家群体性崛起势头.
Both sides oppose protectionism and the implementation of coercive unilateral measures, including extraterritorial jurisdiction, that violate the United Nations Charter and international law norms. 双方反对保护主义，反对实施包括治外法权在内的违背《联合国宪章》和国际法准则的强制性单边措施.
On trade and economic ties, the document talks about:
The two sides will jointly work to optimize the trade structure, create new growth points for the economies of the two countries and bilateral trade volume, and promote the development of e-commerce. Further optimize the business environment, continue to study trade and investment facilitation, and jointly ensure the security and stability of the industrial chain and supply chain.
They will “strengthen cooperation in service trade, including in areas such as transportation logistics, the creative and gaming industries, animation production and distribution, digital trade and standards, information technology, postal services, tourism, and other service trade sectors. Expand service trade cooperation within the BRICS framework.”
They will support cooperation among enterprises engaged in warehousing and logistics, expand mutually beneficial cooperation in the Arctic, jointly promote the implementation of investment cooperation projects such as deep processing of wood in Russia, expand IPR cooperation, etc.
“ctively expand the scale of bilateral trade in the agricultural sector, expand the categories of mutual access of agricultural products between the two countries, strengthen cooperation in animal and plant inspection and quarantine, ensure that Russian pork exports to China meet veterinary health requirements, promote trade in aquatic products between the two countries, expand the list of relevant enterprises, and promote the early export of Russian cooked meat products to China. Accelerate the consultation on quarantine requirements for Russian feed, winter barley and winter wheat exports to China, and promote the cancellation of regional restrictions on Russian rapeseed exports to China.
Continue to maintain close cooperation on improving the infrastructure of the border ports of the two countries, and enhance the cargo handling capacity and efficiency of the China-Russia border ports.
Promote the construction and maintenance of infrastructure such as highways, bridges on border rivers, and railways at the China-Russia border ports.
Actively promote the China-Russia-Mongolia and China-Russia-Kazakhstan trilateral railway transportation projects.
Use digital technology and autonomous driving technology to innovate new models of freight transportation
Strengthen exchanges in the fields of maritime and river transportation, and deepen China-Russia maritime search and rescue cooperation.
Strengthen cooperation in civil aviation, energy equipment, chemical industry, metallurgy, forestry and other areas of common interest to promote the implementation of cooperation projects.
Deepen exchanges and cooperation in information and communication technologies such as mobile and postal services, strengthen cooperation in cross-border optical cable laying and maintenance, and carry out reciprocal cooperation in telecommunications, cutting-edge technologies, innovative projects, standardization, and telecommunications equipment testing.
Expand cooperation in education, research and development, and talent training in the field of information and communication technology. Maintain regular communication on issues such as open source, operating systems, software and cloud services in the field of information technology and information security.
Actively carry out practical cooperation in the field of AI on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and strengthen coordination on global governance issues. Support the establishment of the Artificial Intelligence Working Group of the Communications and Information Technology Cooperation Subcommittee of the China-Russia Prime Ministers’ Regular Meeting Committee, and carry out cooperation around the experience and best practices in the field of ethical governance and industrial application of AI.
Support BRICS countries to cooperate on AI capacity building, joint research, and global governance. Both sides welcome China establishing the ‘China-BRICS Artificial Intelligence Development and Cooperation Center’ to promote cooperation in strengthening industrial docking, capacity building, etc.
Deepen cooperation in the field of aerospace, implement long-term mutually beneficial cooperation projects as planned, and meet the common interests of both sides in the fields of innovation, science and technology, and socio-economic development. Continue to promote the construction of the International Lunar Research Station and coordinate the China-Russia lunar exploration project.
Deepen cooperation in the field of satellite navigation, promote the Beidou and GLONASS systems and their enhanced systems to achieve a higher degree of compatibility and interoperability, strengthen the joint monitoring and evaluation of the service performance of the two systems, user information support, and the application development of the two systems, improve the quality and reliability of navigation services provided by the two systems to users, and apply the two systems more widely to various economic sectors of the two countries.
Continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation in the fields of standardization, metrology, conformity assessment and inspection and testing, and promote trade facilitation between China and Russia. Carry out cooperative research, bilateral comparison and consultation in the field of metrology projects. Regularly exchange standard information and promote more mutual recognition of standards in the fields of energy, civil aircraft, agriculture and food. Strengthen position coordination and mutual support in international and regional standards and metrology organizations.
On investment, the document says:
Strengthen investment cooperation in equipment manufacturing, transportation, logistics and infrastructure, agriculture, forestry, construction, chemicals, light industry, mining, energy, innovation and scientific application, tourism, sports, sustainable development and climate change.
Monitor and guide investment projects, including those included in the list of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee, and provide all-round support, and conduct joint research at the project implementation site on a regular basis.
In order to deepen regional investment cooperation, a list of regional investment cooperation projects will be established, and the responsible department will be designated to update it regularly.
Continue consultations on upgrading the Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Russian Federation on the Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments, and strive to complete it as soon as possible and sign it within the year.
——加强装备制造、交通、物流和基础设施、农业、林业、建筑业、化工、轻工业、采矿业、能源、创新与科学应用、旅游、体育、可持续发展和气候变化等领域投资合作。——对包括列入中俄投资合作委员会清单在内的投资项目进行监测指导并提供全方位支持，并定期赴项目实施地开展联合调研。——为深化地区投资合作，建立地区投资合作项目清单，并指定负责部门予以定期更新。——继续就升级《中华人民共和国政府和俄罗斯联邦政府关于促进与相互保护投资协定》进行磋商，争取尽快完成并于年内签署.
On financial cooperation:
Support maintaining the already reached high level of local currency settlement ratio in bilateral trade, investment, credit and other economic and trade activities.
Consolidate and develop payment and settlement infrastructure, including opening agency accounts and branches in each other’s countries.
Strengthen cooperation between China and Russia in the banking and insurance industries…
Support and create necessary conditions for mutual investment, support Chinese and Russian institutions to raise funds in a market-oriented manner in the securities markets of the two countries, and provide corresponding infrastructure services in accordance with market-oriented principles.
Support further cooperation in improving payment convenience and insurance and reinsurance, and create good conditions for the growth of tourists from both sides.
Further deepen communication and cooperation between the two sides in the field of anti-money laundering and combating terrorist financing, especially within the framework of the Financial Action Task Force and the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing
——支持在双边贸易、投资、信贷及其他经贸活动中保持业已达成的高水平本币结算比例。——巩固和发展支付结算基础设施，包括在对方国家开设代理账户和分支机构。——加强中俄银行业保险业合作，包括加强监管领域合作，促进在两国境内开设的双方银行和保险机构稳健发展；——在中俄跨境货物运输以及国际货运中，支持保险公司按照商业自愿、风险可控的原则提供保险保障。——支持并为相互投资创造必要条件，支持中俄机构在两国证券市场以市场化方式融资，并根据市场化原则提供相应基础设施服务。——支持在提升支付便利性以及保险、再保险领域开展进一步合作，为双方游客量增长创造良好条件。——在双方会计准则（在债券发行领域）、审计准则及审计监管等效互认的基础上，积极推动务实领域互利合作。——进一步深化双方在反洗钱和打击恐怖主义融资领域，特别是在金融行动特别工作组（FATF）以及欧亚反洗钱和反恐怖融资组织（EAG）框架内的沟通与合作.
In terms of energy cooperation, the document talks about deeper cooperation in coal, oil, and gas, ensure the stable construction and operation of China-Russia oil and gas pipelines, promote project cooperation in the field of liquefied natural gas, and it calls for studying new projects in the energy field including cross-border projects. The document calls to develop cooperation in emerging fields such as renewable energy, hydrogen energy, energy storage, and carbon market, and deepen cooperation in the field of civilian nuclear energy.
The section following this deals with education, research, sports, science and technology research, tourism, health and medical services, youth activities, films, etc.
Facilitate personnel exchanges, and research and implement joint scientific research programs, including ‘Big Science’ projects. Building on the successful operation of the China-Russia Mathematics Center, promote the establishment of a bilateral collaboration platform for basic research led by Peking University and Moscow State University under the framework of the China-Russia Institute of Basic Science. Leverage relevant universities and research organizations to promote cooperation in basic research areas such as mathematics, physics, and chemistry. 深化基础研究和应用研究领域互利合作。开展人员交流，研究和实施包括“大科学”装置在内的共同科研计划，根据中俄数学中心运行的成功经验，推动北京大学和莫斯科国立大学在中俄基础科学研究院框架下牵头成立基础研究双边协作平台，依托相关高校、科研组织促进数学、物理、化学等基础研究领域合作.
Jointly oppose the politicization of health issues on multilateral platforms (World Health Organization, BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, G20, APEC), support each other's initiatives in international occasions, ensure biosafety and establish a global health architecture. 共同反对在多边平台（世界卫生组织、金砖国家、上海合作组织、二十国集团、亚太经合组织）将卫生问题政治化，在国际场合相互支持对方提出的倡议，确保生物安全和建立全球卫生架构.
On media cooperation, this is interesting: “Both sides advocate the principle of objective and fair reporting and support each other on issues involving each other's interests within the framework of international and regional press associations.” 双方主张客观公正的报道原则，在国际和地区新闻协会框架下就涉及彼此利益的问题相互支持。
The document also talks about border areas cooperation, sub-national cooperation, support for BRI, GDI, GSI and GCI, etc. It adds:
Both sides reaffirmed their willingness to promote inclusive economic globalisation, strengthen partnership dialogue and coordinate positions on promoting a fair world trade and monetary and financial system in a multipolar world, so as to expand the voice and influence of emerging markets and developing countries in global economic governance and prevent certain countries from abusing their monopoly and dominant position in certain areas of the world economy. The two sides are willing to contribute to the stability of global and regional industrial chains and supply chains and promote the building of a more open, inclusive, transparent and non-discriminatory international economic and trade system. 双方重申，愿促进普惠包容的经济全球化，就推动在多极世界中形成公正的世界贸易和货币金融体系加强伙伴对话，协调立场，以扩大新兴市场和发展中国家在全球经济治理中的话语权和影响力，防止个别国家在世界经济个别领域滥用垄断和主导地位。双方愿为保障全球和地区产业链供应链稳定贡献力量，推动构建更加开放、包容、透明、非歧视的国际经贸体系.
Both sides reaffirm that the international obligations of states and their property, including sovereign reserve currencies, should be fully complied with. They unanimously condemned the seizure of foreign assets and property and stressed the right to take countermeasures. 双方重申国家及其财产，包括主权储备货币享有豁免的国际义务应得到完全遵守。一致谴责扣押外国资产和财产的行为，并强调有权采取反制措施。
Both sides are willing to continue to strengthen cooperation under the framework of the G20 and advance global economic governance in a more just, reasonable and inclusive direction. Both sides are willing to jointly support the multilateral trading system, advocate compliance with the principles of free and non-discriminatory trade, promote digital trade and low-carbon development, promote the reform of the Bretton Woods system, enhance the representation of developing countries, actively participate in environmental protection and climate change governance in light of their respective national conditions and national development realities, oppose the politicisation of the climate agenda, comprehensively promote the realisation of sustainable development goals, and ensure the security, stability and sustainable development of the global supply chain. 双方愿继续在二十国集团框架下加强协作，推动全球经济治理朝着更加公正合理包容的方向发展。双方愿共同支持多边贸易体制，倡导遵守自由和非歧视贸易原则，推进数字贸易和低碳发展，推动布雷顿森林体系机构改革，提升发展中国家代表性，结合各自国情和国家发展实际积极参与环境保护与气候变化治理，反对将气候议程政治化，全面推动实现可持续发展目标，确保全球供应链安全、稳定和可持续发展.
Both sides are willing to continue strengthening communication and collaboration within the BRICS framework. China supports Russia in hosting the 16th BRICS Summit. Both sides are willing to work together with other BRICS countries to implement the consensus reached at previous leaders’ meetings, including establishing a partner country model, while expanding BRICS outreach dialogue and ‘BRICS+’ cooperation to safeguard the common interests of emerging markets and developing countries. During Russia’s BRICS presidency, both sides will further promote practical cooperation in the economic and trade fields, including issues related to multilateral trade regulation, promoting sustainable development, safeguarding the security of global industrial and supply chains, enhancing cooperation in special economic zones, developing e-commerce, and supporting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises and artificial intelligence. Additionally, efforts will be made to actively strengthen the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution, supporting China in hosting the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution Forum. Both sides will further promote practical cooperation in the environmental field, advance initiatives such as clean rivers, sustainable urban development, and environmentally friendly technology platforms, and strengthen cooperation with BRICS partners on climate change and sustainable development within the framework of the BRICS Contact Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development. 双方愿继续加强在金砖框架内沟通协作。中方支持俄方主办金砖国家领导人第十六次会晤。双方愿同其他金砖国家共同努力，落实好历届领导人会晤共识，包括设置伙伴国模式，同时拓展金砖外围对话和“金砖+”合作，维护新兴市场和发展中国家共同利益。在俄方担任金砖国家主席国期间，双方进一步推动经贸领域务实合作，包括多边贸易监管问题，促进可持续发展，维护全球产业链供应链安全，加强特殊经济区合作，发展电子商务，支持中小企业和人工智能发展。另外积极加强金砖国家新工业革命伙伴关系建设，支持中方在华举办金砖国家新工业革命伙伴关系论坛。双方进一步推动环境领域务实合作，促进清洁河流、城市可持续发展、环境友好技术平台等倡议落实，在金砖国家应对气候变化与可持续发展联络组框架下就应对气候变化和可持续发展同金砖伙伴加强合作.
Both sides will continue to support each other’s practical cooperation initiatives under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, including in the fields of economy, trade, transportation, logistics, energy and food security, digitalization and innovative development, green industries, addressing climate change, and expanding local currency settlement. The two sides continue to jointly implement the ‘Outline of Multilateral Economic and Trade Cooperation among the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’, including opposing any form of international and regional trade protectionism, illegal sanctions and unilateral trade restrictions that violate WTO rules. The two sides stressed the necessity of establishing an SCO project financing guarantee mechanism to give new impetus to the SCO’s investment cooperation. The two sides will follow the resolution of the 2024 Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States (Astana, July 4, 2024) and continue to consult on issues such as the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Development Bank, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Development Fund (Special Account) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Investment Fund. 双方将继续支持对方在上海合作组织框架下提出的务实合作倡议，包括经贸、交通、物流、能源和粮食安全、数字化和创新发展、绿色产业、应对气候变化、扩大本币结算等领域。双方继续共同落实《上海合作组织成员国多边经贸合作纲要》，包括反对任何形式的国际和地区贸易保护主义、非法制裁和违反世贸组织规则的单边贸易限制。双方强调建立上海合作组织项目融资保障机制对赋予本组织投资合作新动力的必要性。双方将以2024年上海合作组织成员国元首理事会会议（2024年7月4日，阿斯塔纳）决议为遵循，继续就成立上海合作组织开发银行、上海合作组织发展基金（专门账户）和上海合作组织投资基金等问题进行磋商。
Both sides will expand cooperation with ASEAN, support strengthening ASEAN’s central position, and maintain stability and economic vitality in the Asia-Pacific region through extensive cooperation, including jointly strengthening food and energy security cooperation in the region. 双方将扩大同东盟协作，支持加强东盟中心地位，并通过开展广泛的合作维护亚太地区的稳定，保持经济活力，包括共同加强本地区粮食和能源安全合作.
Both sides unanimously oppose the use of unilateral discriminatory protectionist measures under the pretext of environmental protection, as well as acts that seriously violate competition rules and undermine the stability of the global industrial chain and supply chain. 双方一致反对以环保为借口采取单方面歧视性保护主义措施，以及严重违背竞争规则、破坏全球产业链和供应链稳定的行径.
The final bit is the documents that have been signed.