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"China and Russia have a special mission to maintain peace and security"

Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui on preserving historical truth, cooperation between Beijing and Moscow, and UN Security Council reform
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Photo: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Russian Federation
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Anti-Chinese and anti-Russian forces in the West are trying to sow enmity between Moscow and Beijing, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said. But Russia and China have no mutual territorial claims, they have fully resolved the issue of a common border, so such attempts will not succeed, the diplomat emphasized. According to him, the countries intend to develop cooperation through the SCO and BRICS, strengthen trade and humanitarian ties. In particular, in 2025 they will hold events in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Victory to promote the correct view of the history of the Second World War. The ambassador also noted the importance of the UN Security Council for international stability. Meanwhile, China supports the increased representation and voting rights of developing countries in the UNSC. On the veto rights of permanent members and strengthening cooperation with Russia - in an exclusive interview with the Chinese Ambassador to Russia "Izvestia".

"The parties invariably view each other as priority partners"

- How do you assess the path our countries have traveled since the establishment of diplomatic relations?

- In 2024, China and Russia celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with great fanfare. During this time, Sino-Russian cooperation has traveled a difficult path of development. The Soviet Union was the first country in the world to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. After its collapse, the PRC recognized the Russian Federation as the legal successor of the USSR and reaffirmed its readiness to develop relations on the basis of equality, mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The Treaty on Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between the PRC and the Russian Federation, signed on July 16, 2001, laid a solid foundation for further comprehensive strengthening of Sino-Russian relations. Since then, they have been constantly evolving to the point of being defined as a relationship of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation entering a new era. And now Sino-Russian relations have reached the highest level in their history. They have always been based on respect for each other's national interests, adhered to the spirit of eternal friendship and good neighborliness, and maintained healthy and stable development.

Faced with a volatile and unstable world order, Sino-Russian relations have withstood the tests of international changes, demonstrating maturity, stability, independence and resilience. The two sides have always regarded each other as priority partners, consistently adhering to the principles of mutual respect, equality, cooperation and common benefit. China-Russia relations have become a model of relations between major states and neighboring countries in the modern world.

The development of China-Russia relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction entering a new era is not a temporary measure, it is not influenced by individual events or a short period, and this process has strong internal dynamics and independent value. We are confident that under the strategic leadership of President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin, and with the participation and support of various circles in the two countries, China-Russia relations will begin a new stage and continue to move forward confidently and bring benefits to both countries and their peoples.

"They want to alienate China and Russia from each other."

- At the same time, there are different interpretations of past events in academic and social circles in both countries. In May 1989, Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping said at a meeting with CPSU Central Committee General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev that relations between the two countries should "put an end to the past and open up the future." How do you assess the different interpretations of historical issues in the relations between the two countries?

- We have noticed that under the influence of anti-China and anti-Russian forces in the West, which, guided by ulterior motives, are trying to sow enmity between our two countries, some scholars and independent media, ignoring objective historical facts and the general trend of friendly development of relations between China and Russia, deliberately raise the already solved or non-existent so-called historical problems of China and Russia, territorial issues of the two countries and the theory of the Chinese threat for the sake of attracting attention and building up an audience. Their goal is to undermine Sino-Russian relations, and they want to alienate China and Russia from each other. It should be emphasized that since 2001, the two sides have signed a series of treaties, such as the Treaty on Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation and the Supplementary Agreement on the Sino-Russian State Border in its eastern part, which legally approved the concept of "friendship from generation to generation and never be enemies" for the peoples of the two countries and fully defined the passage of the Sino-Russian border line along its entire length (more than 4,300 km).

The two sides have no mutual territorial claims, we have fully resolved the issue of the China-Russia border and are determined to turn it into a border of eternal peace and friendship transmitted from generation to generation, which is in the fundamental interests of both countries and their peoples. The leaders of China and Russia have repeatedly reaffirmed and emphasized this important agreement during several historic meetings. For 75 years, China-Russia relations have accumulated solid mutual trust, consolidated spiritual wealth, enriched content and strengthened powerful stability. History and reality show that good-neighborly coexistence and friendship between China and Russia, passed down from generation to generation, is the aspiration of our peoples and the trend of common development. Ignoring objective historical facts, contradicting the friendly relationship between the peoples of the two countries and speculating on historical topics are not supported and will never succeed.

- In October 2024, during his visit to Kazan to participate in the XVI BRICS Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two sides praised the current state of Sino-Russian relations. In what areas should we expect rapid development in 2025?

- The two sides will continue to be guided by the diplomacy of heads of state, maintain frequent high-level contacts, firmly support each other on sovereignty, security and development, strengthen the pairing of development strategies and push political mutual trust to a higher level. At the same time, strategic interaction will be strengthened to safeguard international justice, promote a multipolar world and democratize international relations. Among other things, the two sides will hold significant diplomatic events such as meetings of the SCO Council of Heads of State and Council of Heads of Government. Russia and China jointly intend to develop cooperation through the SCO and BRICS, bringing together new markets and a large number of developing countries to contribute to reforming the global governance system and promoting human development.

The two sides will deepen business cooperation, promoting it in traditional areas such as energy resources, transportation and communication interconnectivity, trade, economy, investment and agriculture. And in new sectors such as digital economy, information technology, artificial intelligence, biotechnology and green development, China and Russia will create more growth points for cooperation, continuously strengthen the material basis of the relationship and enrich its content.

The two sides will also deepen regional cooperation, expand the geography and areas of cooperation, and intend to diversify the participants, objects and forms of cooperation. China and Russia will continue to actively utilize its mechanisms, such as "Northeast China-Far East Russia" and "Yangtze River-Volga River", further explore the cooperation potential of more than 160 pairs of sister cities and regions, and use platforms such as the China-Russia EXPO and the "ROSTKI: Russia and China - Mutually Beneficial Cooperation" forum to create more conditions for promoting regional cooperation to a new level.

- 2025 is the second of the China-Russia Cross Cultural Years. How will cultural and humanitarian exchanges between the countries develop?

- The two sides will also deepen and expand cooperation in humanitarian exchanges, and continue to strengthen people-to-people ties. China and Russia will jointly organize important festive events such as the "Happy Spring Festival" and "Together at the End of the World in One Moment", as well as branded events such as the China Culture Festival and the Chinese Film Festival. Special events such as the Confucian Culture Festival are also being prepared. In addition, the two sides will further strengthen cooperation in areas such as education, media, think tanks, youth exchanges, sports, tourism and cinema to achieve results as early as possible and promote mutual learning of cultures and strengthen the bond between peoples.

"This Victory has special significance for both China and Russia, as well as for the entire history of mankind," he said

- The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the victory of the Chinese people in the War of Resistance against Japanese invaders, as well as the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the UN...

- World War II brought great disasters and historical wounds to mankind. China and the Soviet Union, which were the main battlefields in Asia and Europe, respectively, suffered enormous sacrifices but also made invaluable historical contributions to victory in World War II and the restoration of international order.

The Great Victory not only put an end to unprecedented disasters in human history, but also laid the foundation for the restoration of the post-war international order. This Victory is of special significance for China and Russia, as well as for the entire history of mankind. In this war, the Chinese and Soviet peoples supported each other, fought shoulder to shoulder, defended the independence and dignity of their countries, and upheld world peace and justice, creating an unbreakable friendship cemented by blood.

As permanent members of the UN Security Council and leading world powers, China and Russia have a special mission to maintain world peace and security and promote human development. In 2025, the two sides will hold commemorative events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War to promote a correct view of the history of World War II, protect its outcome, and securely preserve the post-war international order. China and Russia will make due contributions to mutual development and revitalization and promote world prosperity and stability.

"We should have a sober assessment of the problems that the Security Council has"

- For a long time, Security Council reform has been one of the most important tasks of the UN. As one of the founding countries of the organization, what reforms does China support?

- The UN remains a symbol of multilateralism, reflecting the aspirations and tireless efforts of peoples for peace and development after two world wars. Faced with colossal changes unprecedented in 100 years, Chinese President Xi Jinping said a strong United Nations, as well as reforms and construction of a global governance system, are necessary to build a community of common destiny for mankind. The UN Security Council is the most authoritative and legitimate body of the multilateral security system. China supports the necessary reforms of the UNSC so that it can better fulfill its important responsibilities in maintaining international peace and security and more effectively deal with current global challenges.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN. Since its inception, the Security Council has played an indispensable role in resolving conflicts and preventing wars. At the same time, we must be sober about the problems that the Security Council has. The main ones are its unfair composition, lack of representativeness and irrational structure, with one camp dominating the Council's affairs for a long time. Only by identifying the root of the problem can effective solutions be found and reforms be targeted.

We consider the Security Council to be the core of the collective security mechanism. Its reform should not satisfy only the interests of a small number of countries, but should reflect international political reality and future development trends, as well as embody historical trends related to the formation of a multipolar world, the democratization of international relations and the rise of the Global South. The only true direction for Security Council reform is to truly increase the representation and voice of developing countries. That is the common view of the overwhelming majority of Member States, and any reforms that deviate from that direction will be unacceptable.

At the same time, Security Council reform must take into account the key interests of different countries, which requires full engagement, respect for their views and the concerns of all parties. The UN Charter grants permanent members of the Security Council the right of veto, reflecting their special responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. China, as a permanent member of the Security Council, has always taken a cautious and responsible approach to the use of this right.

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