In a significant move to strengthen bilateral ties, China's top legislator Zhao Leji recently concluded an official goodwill visit to Russia, marking a new chapter in parliamentary cooperation between the two nations.
During the visit, which took place from Wednesday to Saturday, Zhao, Chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, engaged in high-level talks with Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko and State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin. A central highlight of the trip was the 11th meeting of the China-Russia committee for parliamentary cooperation held in Moscow.
Zhao emphasized that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the relationship between the two countries has entered a stage of accelerated development and greater achievement. He expressed China's commitment to implementing the consensus reached by the leaders, focusing on enhancing mutual strategic trust and deepening the integration of interests.
The discussions highlighted several key areas for legislative collaboration, including national security, ecological and environmental protection, artificial intelligence (AI), and foreign-related rule of law. Both sides recognized the importance of exchanging legislative experience to better serve the evolving needs of their respective nations.
Speaker Valentina Matviyenko noted that the current state of Russia-China relations is at its historical peak. She affirmed the Russian Federation Council's readiness to provide the necessary legal frameworks to boost practical cooperation in energy, trade, investment, transportation, and culture.
Adding to the diplomatic momentum, Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin reaffirmed Russia's firm adherence to the one-China principle and expressed a desire to strengthen multilateral cooperation to protect the historic outcomes of World War II.
Beyond the meeting rooms, the visit included a focus on cultural and historical bonds. Zhao advocated for the protection of enterprise rights and the promotion of the China-Russia Years of Education. He also visited Irkutsk and toured exhibitions commemorating the 25th anniversary of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, as well as a site dedicated to the 6th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Moscow.
The visit concluded with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, symbolizing the deep mutual respect and shared history between the two global powers.
Reference(s):
Top Chinese, Russian legislators meet to deepen parliamentary ties
cgtn.com
