Islamabad, Pakistan – Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin met on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 23rd Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Islamabad. The leaders pledged to enhance bilateral cooperation and maintain close collaboration across various sectors.
Premier Li emphasized the strong foundation of mutual support between China and Russia, highlighting the ongoing advancement of practical cooperation. “China and Russia uphold mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests,” Li stated, praising the fruitful strategic partnership and the thriving people-to-people and sub-national exchanges between the two nations.
Li expressed China's readiness to work with Russia to implement the important consensus reached by their heads of state. He stressed the importance of expanding mutually beneficial cooperation to contribute to the development and revitalization of both countries and to promote global prosperity and stability. “China will further deepen cooperation with Russia in traditional areas such as economy, trade, and energy,” he said. “We will also advance cooperation in emerging areas, including the digital economy, to enhance our collaboration in industrial and supply chains.”
The Chinese premier called for the two countries to promote the SCO member states to uphold the “Shanghai Spirit,” strengthen mutual strategic trust, and adhere to principles of mutual benefit and win-win results. “This will lead to a more dynamic SCO with more pragmatic cooperation and more universally beneficial outcomes,” Li added.
Prime Minister Mishustin echoed these sentiments, expressing Russia's willingness to work closely with China. “Russia is eager to enhance the alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union,” Mishustin said. He highlighted the potential for deepening practical cooperation in fields such as energy, transportation, and agriculture, and stressed the importance of maintaining close collaboration within international frameworks like the United Nations, the SCO, and BRICS.
The meeting between the two leaders underscores the commitment of China and Russia to strengthen their strategic partnership amid evolving global dynamics. Their collaboration within the SCO and other multilateral platforms aims to foster regional stability and economic growth.
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Premier Li calls on China, Russia to maintain close collaboration
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