Kremlin says counting on development of strategic partnership, alliance with China

MOSCOW. March 30 (Interfax) - The Kremlin says it is counting on the strengthening of relations of "privileged strategic partnership and alliance" with China.

Journalists asked Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday to comment on the recent rapprochement between Russia and China. "This is not the recent rapprochement between Russia and China but a mere progressive development of relations, which have actually reached a very high level. This is a privileged strategic partnership, we are partners, we are allies with China," he said.

"We fully support and hope for further development of these relations," Peskov said.

As to whether China could be viewed as a reliable ally, Peskov said, "We have seen that and, hopefully, nothing changes in this respect. This is not a matter of recent days or months, this is our very positive bilateral baggage of relations we are carrying on together. It has been accumulated over the past decades,"