This year marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between China and Russia. This treaty has laid a solid foundation for long-term good-neighborliness and cooperative relations between the two countries. On July 16 local time, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov wrote an article in the Russian newspaper "Businessmen's Daily", stating that the friendly relations between China and Russia have withstood the test of time and have become a model of equal and mutually beneficial relations between nations. The two countries will continue to deepen cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, science and technology, and humanities.
Lavrov said that, against the backdrop of the gradual formation of a more fair multipolar world order, Russia and China have carried out various forms of cooperation, setting an example for establishing relations between nations based on equality and mutual benefit. The strategic partnership between Russia and China is crucial for both countries themselves, as well as for maintaining global peace, security, and stability.
Lavrov said that to further deepen cooperation, Russia and China have signed bilateral documents covering various fields, creating favorable conditions for cooperation among different sectors of society, including business, science, culture, and education. He specifically mentioned that the two countries play a crucial role in maintaining historical truth and combating attempts to distort history.
He pointed out that Russia and China have a strong complementarity in terms of economy. Over the past 25 years, bilateral trade has increased by more than 30 times, and it has exceeded $200 billion for three consecutive years. Since 2010, China has been Russia's largest trading partner. At the same time, Russia is also one of China's top five trading partners.
He added that efforts to improve the bilateral trade structure are still ongoing. Almost all trade settlements between Russia and China are conducted in their respective currencies, with the proportion of dollars and euros having dropped to extremely low levels.
In terms of industry and technology, China and Russia are engaging in dialogue in areas such as science, technology, and innovation, and are establishing new cooperation platforms. Lavrov mentioned that the two countries are expanding practical cooperation in information and communication technologies.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov IC photo
When talking about cooperation in the field of humanities, Lavrov said that Russia-China humanistic exchanges and cooperation have reached a new level. "We have moved from carrying out fragmented, one-time activities to systematic and multi-faceted collaboration. This not only increases public support for Russia-China strategic partnership but also lays the foundation for the future, strengthening the bonds of friendship and trust between the two peoples."
China and Russia will host the "China-Russia Education Year" event in 2026-2027. Regarding this, Lavrov said that Russia hopes this cooperation will promote academic exchanges among outstanding young talents from both countries and fully realize the talent potential of both nations. The Russian government has established relevant mechanisms to support academic exchange projects.
Double-sided relations have become more enriching due to the creativity of cross-cultural exchanges, fostering cultural intermingling and maintaining persistent interest in each other's traditional customs. Rafalov wrote: "Our two nations uphold a philosophy of multi-culturalism, viewing cultural identification as a fundamental component of a multipolar world structure, cherishing each other's historical legacies and providing necessary assistance."
He mentioned that the involvement of Chinese experts in restoring the interior decorations of the China Hall in the Ekaterina Palace, which was damaged during the Soviet Union’s War to defend the country, is a powerful demonstration of this concept.
In the end of his article, Lavrov emphasized that the Treaty of Good Neighborhood and Friendly Cooperation between China and Russia has stood the test of time. As a solid foundation for bilateral relations, it fully aligns with the long-term fundamental interests of both countries. He stated that Russia, together with China, will continue to realize the cooperation potential inherent in the treaty and transform it into tangible achievements that promote the development of bilateral relations.
In May this year, Russian President Putin stated that cooperation between Russia and China is the most important factor in maintaining stability in international relations. On July 1st, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhalalova pointed out that practical cooperation between the two countries is progressing steadily on the basis of the "Sino-Russian Neighborhood Friendship and Cooperation Treaty." "Despite facing external challenges, we continue to carry out bilateral cooperation based on principles of equality, mutual respect, and mutual benefit."
According to the website of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on July 14, Liu Bin, assistant minister of foreign affairs, attended a reception held by the Russian Embassy in China to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the signing of the 'Treaty on Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between China and Russia' and delivered a speech.
Liu Bin stated that the Treaty is a solid foundation for the long-term development of good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation between China and Russia, making an important historical contribution to promoting the establishment of a new type of international relations. The Chinese side is willing to work with Russia to promote Sino-Russian relations towards a new stage of higher quality, faster development, and greater impact. This will bring more benefits to the people of both countries and inject more stability and confidence into the world, which is undergoing turmoil and change.
