Russia, China to continue working together for prosperity, says Putin

MOSCOW - Russia and China will continue to work together to ensure the prosperity of the two great nations, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

In a written interview (full text) with Xinhua on the eve of his visit to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Tianjin Summit and China's V-Day commemorations in Beijing, Putin also said that during his visit, he will join the Chinese side in commemorating the 80th anniversary of the great victory and engage in in-depth discussions on new prospects and measures for mutually beneficial cooperation to bring benefits to the peoples of Russia and China.

Calling Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia in May a "resounding success," Putin said the visit drew wide international attention and was highly regarded in his country, with its achievements including a comprehensive joint statement and the signing of a substantial package of bilateral documents.

Xi's visit had "deep symbolic significance to the further development of Russian-Chinese relations," Putin said. "We reaffirmed the strategic choice of our peoples in favor of strengthening the traditions of good-neighborliness, friendship, and long-term, mutually beneficial cooperation."

"Very soon, at the invitation of President Xi, I will pay a return visit to China," Putin said, adding that he looks forward to in-depth discussions with Xi on all aspects of the bilateral agenda, and exchanges of views on pressing regional and international issues.

"In Russia, we deeply value the Chinese leader's genuine commitment to advancing our comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation," Putin said.

Putin stressed that Xi treats his country's history with utmost respect. "He is a true leader of a great world power, a man of strong will, endowed with strategic vision and a global outlook, and unwavering in his commitment to national interests. It is of exceptional importance for China that such a person stands at the helm at this challenging, pivotal moment in international affairs," Putin said.

In Beijing, Putin said, he will join the Chinese side to pay tribute to the shared act of heroism of their fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers, to honor the memory of those who sealed the brotherhood of the two peoples with their blood, defended the freedom and independence of the two states, and secured their right to sovereign development.

The peoples of the Soviet Union and China bore the brunt of the fighting and suffered the heaviest losses, Putin stressed. "It was our citizens who endured the greatest hardships in the struggle against the invaders and played a decisive role in defeating Nazism and militarism," he said.