China's strategic choice is further development of ties with Russia - Xi Jinping

BEIJING. March 21 (Interfax) - China-Russia relations are a priority of the diplomacy and foreign policy of the two countries as great powers, and their progressive development is China's strategic choice, Chinese President Xi Jinping said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"To consolidate and develop well China-Russia relations is a strategic choice China has made on the basis of its own fundamental interests and the prevailing trends of the world," the Chinese Foreign Ministry quoted Xi as saying in a statement.

During their informal one-on-one meeting on Monday, the two leaders had an in-depth and frank exchange of views on China-Russia relations and on issues of mutual interest, the statement said.

Both China and Russia are committed to achieving national development and intensification, support multi-polarity and promote democratization of international relations, Xi said. China and Russia have to continue to deepen their practical cooperation in various fields, strengthen coordination and cooperation in multilateral formats, such as the United Nations, and "be bulwark for world peace and stability", he said.

According to the Foreign Ministry, "the two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine issue." "China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting the political settlement of the Ukraine issue," Xi said.

"Most countries support easing tensions, stand for peace talks, and are against adding fuel to the fire," he said.

China recently published a document "advocating the political settlement of the [Ukrainian] crisis and rejecting the Cold War mentality and unilateral sanctions," he said.

"The more acute the problem is, the more important it is not to give up efforts for dialogue," he said.

"President Putin said that Russia appreciates China for consistently upholding an impartial, objective, and balanced position and standing for fairness and justice on major international issues. Russia has carefully studied China's position paper on the political settlement of the Ukraine issue and is open to talks for peace. Russia welcomes China to play a constructive role in this regard," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

On Monday, Xi arrived in Moscow on a state visit.

As reported, Xi's Tuesday program will start with a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The two presidents will continue negotiations in the afternoon.

The official meeting of Putin and Xi is due to begin at the Grand Kremlin Palace at 3:00 p.m. It will be followed by narrow-format talks and then by talks also involving the two countries' delegations. Bilateral documents will be signed afterwards, and Putin and Xi will then make a statement to the media.

The state dinner will then take place at the Palace of the Facets, an architectural monument of the Moscow Kremlin.