Advice to the West: Don't slide

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a joint statement on the eve of deepening relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction. Moscow and Beijing called for an end to all steps contributing to the escalation of tensions and the delay in hostilities in Ukraine. The statement contains a wish to the West to avoid further degradation of the crisis, to prevent its transition to an uncontrolled phase, the correspondent of The Moscow Post reports.

In an article for People's Daily, Vladimir Putin recalled that Russia has been declared an "immediate threat" by the West, and China is a "strategic competitor." This puts Moscow and Beijing on the same side of the line of geopolitical confrontation drawn by the West, forces them to consider bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and the PRC as a guarantee of a fair world order and an instrument for maintaining global stability.

"Relations between Russia and China are superior in quality to military-political alliances during the Cold War," Vladimir Putin said on the eve of the visit. Against the background of the degradation of relations between the nuclear powers, Moscow and Beijing proposed to reduce strategic risks, to minimize the grounds for the emergence of contradictions in the field of security. This is stated in a joint statement of the leaders, published following the meeting.

You are not there for the NPT

Many points of the Chinese peace plan for Ukraine can be taken as the basis for a settlement when they are ready for this in the West and in Kyiv, "said Vladimir Putin.

Russia and China also expressed serious concern about the risks to strategic stability in the Asia-Pacific region (APR) in connection with the development plans of the trilateral partnership of Washington, London, Canberra (AUCUS), which includes the deployment of nuclear submarines in Australia.

The parties called on these countries "to strictly fulfill their obligations on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, to maintain regional peace, stability and development in the region," the statement said.

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is the cornerstone of international nuclear disarmament mechanisms and the international non-proliferation regime. Russia and China have also called on the US and Japan to accelerate and complete the elimination of chemical weapons.

In a joint statement, the parties expressed concern about the intensification of US activities to create a global missile defense system and build up the potential of high-precision non-nuclear weapons, as well as the US desire to deploy intermediate-range and shorter-range ground-based missiles in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe and transfer them to its allies.

Doctor won't help: Double containment diagnosis

Xi Jinping, in an article for Rossiyskaya Gazeta, noted that "Bilateral relations are based on the principles of non-alignment, non-confrontation and non-orientation against third parties," China and Russia defend a one-centric international system and world order.

Relations between China and Russia do not pose a threat, said Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang. According to him, Beijing and Moscow regard their relations as "a force that will bring global peace and stability."

It is often heard that the United States made a strategic mistake, deciding to confront both Moscow and Beijing at the same time. Indeed, if Washington had been "more circumspect," had not chosen "double deterrence," then what?

In other words, everything turned out for the better and helped bring Moscow and Beijing closer together because the West simply did not leave alternatives? Is it more correct to say that Russia and China left no choice to the West, refusing to play by Washington rules?

The Chinese leader in an article for Rossiyskaya Gazeta introduced such a concept as "historical logic" in the development of relations between Russia and China. The meaning of this phrase is that the partnership between China and Russia organically, in a different way and could not be, otherwise it would contradict the fundamental interests of both China and Russia.

"President Putin and I together summed up the results of the development of bilateral relations over the past ten years and agreed that Sino-Russian ties have gone far beyond bilateral relations and are vital for the modern world order and the fate of mankind," Xi Jinping said, speaking after negotiations with a statement to the media.

Simple realities, for ordinary people

What did the leaders of Russia and China offer as guidelines for their countries and peoples? Good neighborliness and eternal friendship, joint development and sovereignty, taking into account "national realities... and the real benefits to ordinary people, "as Xi Jinping formulated in an article for Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

The topic of trade and economic interaction is a priority. China is firmly in the position of Russia's leading foreign trade partner. Following Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow, the leaders agreed to develop economic cooperation in eight key areas. The governments of the Russian Federation and the PRC are instructed to prepare an appropriate work plan.

China positions itself as Russia's largest trading partner. The volume of mutual investment continues to grow. A number of strategically important cooperation projects in the field of energy, space, aviation and transport interconnectedness are being implemented.

Before the visit, Xi Jinping detailed the tasks in the field of economics, trade and investment, proposing the following steps:

· to outline new plans for the development of relations

· to increase the volume and quality of investment, trade and economic cooperation

· to develop collaboration across new industries, including innovation and e-commerce

· to promote interregional cooperation

· to concentrate on integrated planning with an eye to national development tasks

· to discover new opportunities and cultivate new drivers

· continue to work together to combine the "One Belt and One Road" initiative and the EAEU.

Vladimir Putin noted that in recent years, China has made a breakthrough in development, which means not only recognition of the success of the PRC, but also testifies to Russia's deep interest in economic partnership. The Russian leader also said he was ready to expand the scope of settlements in yuan in trade with other countries.

Vladimir Putin said that by 2030 Russia will increase gas supplies to China to 98 billion cubic meters and that the Power of Siberia - 2 project is at the final stage of coordinating the details. Further growth in Russian gas exports to China will be facilitated by the implementation of the intergovernmental agreement concluded in January on the construction of the Far Eastern gas route, as well as the implementation of the initiative to build the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline through Mongolia.

Russia as a whole will help China with growing demand for energy resources, and Chinese businessmen with the opening of new enterprises to replace those who left Russia. The supply of Russian goods to Chinese shelves is expected to increase.

Xi Jinping added to this: "President Putin and I agreed to intensify comprehensive planning at the highest level, increase trade in energy, resources and electrical products, increase stress resistance of production and supply chains from both sides, expand cooperation in the fields of information technology, digital economy, agriculture and trade in services, achieve complementary and parallel development of traditional trade with growing industries, continue to ensure uninterrupted cross-border logistics and transportation. "

When "played" in one place

The handshakes of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping should be a serious cause for American concern. The US risks losing its place as a leader in international diplomacy. The spotlight is shifting towards Beijing and Moscow, the SCO and the BRICS, in which Russia and China have an important role.

Russia and China advocate improving the architecture of international security, giving it greater resilience to crises.

"One of the central pillars of international security should be the agreed and strictly observed principles and parameters of peaceful coexistence at the modern historical stage, which would minimize the conflict potential in interstate relations," the statement said.

A way out of the current crisis is possible along the way of returning America to the status of a "normal power." The United States must stop splitting the world into blocks. Although there is little hope for this, the alternative will be new crisis shocks and the destruction of the entire system of international structure. Russia and China believe that conflicts between permanent members of the UN Security Council, who have a special responsibility in maintaining peace and global stability, should be avoided to the maximum extent possible.

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