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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Comrade Li Zhanshu, friends,

I wholeheartedly welcome you to Moscow.

This is your first visit to Russia in your new capacity. We have met many times before, but this is the first time you have come to Russia as Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China.

I am delighted that the new head of the Chinese Parliament is a person who understands Russian-Chinese relations very well and who has always supported the development of our strategic partnership.

I would like to say in this connection that the state visit by President Xi Jinping to Russia last summer has shown once again that Russian-Chinese relations are a positive example of international and bilateral cooperation.

It is for a reason that we describe our relationship as a strategic partnership. This is because we are operating within the framework of international law but primarily in the interests of our nations. We implement all the plans and reach all the goals we set for ourselves, sometimes ahead of schedule. I am referring to the economy, our humanitarian ties, military cooperation and interaction on the international stage.

As you know, we also maintain strong ties between our parliaments. The leaders of the National People’s Congress of China regularly meet with the speakers of the two houses of the Russian Parliament, the Federation Council and the State Duma. I know that your agenda includes talks with Ms Matviyenko and Mr Volodin. Our public organisations and the Russia-China Friendship Committee are working to capacity. Our humanitarian ties, namely cultural and student exchanges are progressing.

Cooperation between our regions is growing rapidly. The governors of Chinese provinces and Russian regions have developed solid relations between their regions and continue to strengthen them. These relations have become a major part of interstate cooperation.

We are delighted to see you. Welcome to Russia. At the beginning of our conversation, I would like to ask you to convey best regards to our friend, President of China Xi Jinping. I hope to see him soon at international venues, just as we agreed to do.

Thank you very much.

Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Li Zhanshu (retranslated): Mr President,

I know that you as a head of state have a very busy schedule. I know this very well. Yet you have found the time to meet with me immediately upon my arrival. I am deeply grateful to you for this. First of all, I would like to convey to you, our dear friend, the best regards from your good friend, President Xi Jinping.

This year we marked the 70^th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between China and Russia. President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and I have all visited your country in a matter of four months. This is evidence of the special nature and importance of Chinese-Russian relations. Over this period in time our relations have reached an unprecedentedly high level. This became possible above all thanks to the strategic leadership and personal efforts of our leaders.

President Xi Jinping and you are great politicians and strategists, who think broadly and globally. The all-round development of Chinese-Russian relations is benefitting our nations and contributing to global development and cooperation on the planet as a whole.

In June this year, President Xi Jinping made a successful visit to Russia, during which you adopted a joint decision to promote the Chinese-Russian relations of comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era. It marked a major stage in the development of Chinese-Russian relations.

Our relations in the new age are very eventful. First of all, we intend to provide strategic assistance and support to each other and to promote mutual integration based on innovation, mutual benefit and mutual advantage. In attaining this goal, it is important for us to rely on the strategic leadership of our heads of state. It is the key factor in our relations.

President Xi Jinping and you are great, forward-looking and energetic leaders with a strong sense of duty. You not only devote all your time and efforts to the good of our nations but have also assumed responsibility for peace on earth. You have very good business relations and a personal friendship. This is very important politically.

We should promote our mutual political trust and strategic interaction to an even higher level. China and Russia have set an example of good relations between great powers and neighbours.

We have many common interests. Practice has shown that our friendship and cooperation are sincere and reliable. The United States has adopted a policy of dual containment of China and Russia and has attempted to drive a wedge between us. But we have seen through that ploy, and we have not fallen into that trap. The main reason for that is that our relations rest on a solid foundation of mutual trust.

We will continue to strengthen our mutual trust, and we will respect each other’s will to pursue our own development path and to uphold our vital national interests when it comes to sovereignty, security and development.

Of course, we should promote our economic cooperation to an even higher level, as you have said. This is true not only regarding the economy, but also science and technology, innovations, cultural exchanges and interregional cooperation.

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