St. Petersburg, Oct. 22 (SANA) China and Russia have condemned what they described as destructive external interference in Eurasia, reaffirming their commitment to the United Nations and international law while pledging to deepen bilateral trade and expand cooperation on Arctic shipping routes.
The two countries expressed their positions in a joint statement issued following the 31st regular meeting between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, held in St. Petersburg.
According to China’s Xinhua News Agency, the statement described destructive external interference as a major source of instability across Eurasia and strongly condemned external coercive actions involving the use of force.
The two sides also called for fair international relations based on mutually beneficial cooperation among sovereign states and rejected efforts to divide the world into hostile regions or blocs.
Expanding trade and economic cooperation
China and Russia pledged to develop bilateral trade steadily and comprehensively, improve its quality and structure, and maintain the positive momentum of economic cooperation despite adverse external conditions.
The two sides agreed to expand trade, improve the composition of traded products and identify new sources of growth in cross-border e-commerce, the digital economy, green development and low-carbon industries.
They also committed to strengthening cooperation in trade in services and facilitating commercial exchanges.
Strengthening Arctic shipping links
As part of their broader strategic cooperation, China and Russia agreed to increase cargo transportation along Arctic shipping routes and expand shipping services between Chinese and Russian ports to enhance the competitiveness of these routes.
The two countries also agreed to deepen maritime transport cooperation through the subcommittee on Arctic shipping routes, strengthen cooperation in building vessels designed for Arctic operations and support companies from both countries operating in the region.
Broader bilateral ties
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed their commitment to advancing bilateral relations across various fields on May 20.
On July 6, the two countries launched joint naval exercises, dubbed “Joint Sea 2026,” at a military port in Qingdao, in China’s eastern Shandong Province.
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