Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his address at the opening of the third Belt and Road international cooperation forum in Beijing, emphasized that Russia and China, like the majority of nations worldwide, aim to foster equitable cooperation while respecting each country's right to determine its own development model.
"As we've emphasized on multiple occasions, both Russia and China, in alignment with the majority of nations globally, are committed to pursuing cooperative endeavors that are mutually beneficial. Our aim is to foster sustainable and enduring economic advancement, as well as social prosperity, while respecting the diversity of civilizations and recognizing each state's sovereign right to determine its unique development model," stated the president.
Integration and cooperation
The president highlighted that the integration agenda, encompassing a wide range of initiatives, is a fundamental component of Russia's national strategy for bolstering economic, technological, and financial sovereignty, as well as modernizing and expanding infrastructure. He pointed out that this effort is of significant importance because Russia, as the world's largest country in terms of territory, plays a crucial role in facilitating connectivity among all partners through its landmass, a matter of considerable significance for Moscow's friends and partners.
Putin pointed out that the Belt and Road initiative aligns effectively with the ongoing integration processes in various parts of the world. He emphasized that it also resonates with Russia's vision to establish an integration network where the principles of trade, investment, and labor freedom are comprehensively upheld, and interconnected infrastructure is diligently developed.
"It aligns with our established vision of creating a vast Eurasian domain as a platform for cooperation and collaboration among like-minded nations. Within this space, diverse integration initiatives will interconnect, including Belt and Road, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the Eurasian Economic Union, which Russia is effectively nurturing in cooperation with its partners across the post-Soviet region," the president added.
Putin emphasized the significance of the specific agreement between Russia and China regarding the concurrent and synchronized advancement of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and the Belt and Road program.
"Furthermore, it's of significance that a non-preferential agreement on trade and economic cooperation between the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and the People's Republic of China is actively progressing," Putin emphasized. He noted the establishment of a joint commission aimed at collaboratively implementing this agreement, along with the adoption of a comprehensive roadmap in February of this year. This roadmap, among its various provisions, "outlines the establishment of a framework for interaction between the Eurasian Union and China in areas encompassing trade policy and the digitalization of transport networks."
The president expressed gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping for extending the invitation to the third Belt and Road international forum. He underlined that the present event occurs within the context of a decade marked by significant, globally impactful, forward-looking initiatives set forth by the Chinese leader, with the objective of shaping a more equitable, multipolar world. "This is undoubtedly a worldwide strategy," Putin affirmed. He agreed with President Xi, recognizing that the Chinese vision of Belt and Road logically integrates into the broader collective efforts to enhance creative and constructive collaboration across the global community.
About the Northern Sea Route
The Russian president also extended an invitation to interested countries to participate in the development of the Northern Sea Route, which is on the verge of becoming a year-round navigational route.
"Russia is not merely extending an invitation for partners to make active use of its transit capabilities but is going a step further by inviting interested nations to engage directly in its development. We are prepared to offer dependable ice navigation, communication, and logistical support," Putin said.
The Russian leader emphasized that by next year, navigation for ice-class cargo ships along the entire length of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) will be available year-round.
The Northern Sea Route is a vital shipping route in the Russian Arctic, tracing the northern coast of Russia across the Arctic Ocean's seas (Barents, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian, Chukchi, and Bering Seas). It connects European and Far Eastern ports of the Russian Federation and the mouths of navigable Siberian rivers, forming a unified transportation system. The NSR spans approximately 5.6 thousand kilometers from the Kara Strait to Provideniya Bay and features over 50 ports along its route. It's worth noting that the NSR route is nearly half the distance of alternative sea routes between Europe and the Far East.
In 1991, the Northern Sea Route was opened for international navigation. In 2013, a federal law was enacted to establish the boundaries of the NSR, and in 2018, the Rosatom State Corporation was granted authorization for the development of the Northern Sea Route.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS