Calling Beijing a "great friend", affirming its attitude towards friendly countries

On May 23, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin arrived at a conference center in Shanghai (China) to attend the Russia-China Business Forum, starting a two-day visit to the world's second largest economy .

Thủ tướng Nga thăm Trung Quốc: Gọi Bắc Kinh là 'người bạn lớn', khẳng định thái độ với các quốc gia thân thiện

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin (right) and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng attend the plenary session of the Russia-China Business Forum in Shanghai, China, May 23.

Speaking at the Forum, Prime Minister Mishustin said that in the current context, Russia will continue to strengthen relations with China and other countries willing to cooperate.

"Our country is looking at dynamically developing markets. We have expanded trade with rapidly developing economies around the world . This applies fully to our great friend - China," Mishustin said.

According to him, strengthening Russia-China relations will have a positive impact on the economies of both countries, and he said that bilateral trade turnover in 2023 could reach 200 billion USD.

In addition, Russia will continue to export oil to China on a "long-term basis" and Moscow is ready to significantly increase agricultural exports to the world's second-largest economy.

Also at the Forum, Prime Minister Mishustin said that Russia's trade turnover increased by more than 8% to 850 billion USD last year, with exports increasing by about 20%.

"We will continue to build relations with friendly countries. This is one of the six key tasks outlined by Russian President Vladimir Putin this year," he declared.

On May 19, RIA Novosti news agency quoted an announcement from the Kremlin saying that Prime Minister Mishustin will pay an official visit to China from May 23-24 to Shanghai and Beijing.

It is expected that in Beijing, Mr. Mishustin will meet his counterpart Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping of the host country to discuss economic and trade cooperation, especially in the fields of industry, energy, transport infrastructure and agriculture.

Commenting on the Russian Prime Minister's visit, on May 23, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said that Beijing "always develops normal trade and economic cooperation with all countries in the world on the basis of equality and mutual benefit," including Moscow.

Affirming its opposition to unilateral sanctions and extraterritorial jurisdiction that have no basis in international law and are not authorized by the United Nations Security Council, China stated that cooperation with Russia "is not aimed at any third party and is not subject to their influence or coercion."

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