China, Russia make new achievements in strategic coordination, practical cooperation

The national flags of China and Russia are seen on Red Square, Moscow.

A series of new achievements have been made in the fields of politics, economy and trade, science and technology, energy and the military.

MOSCOW, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin via video link on Wednesday, another virtual conference this year following the one in June.

Since the beginning of this year, China and Russia have taken the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation as a new starting point to promote strategic coordination and comprehensive practical cooperation between the two countries.

A series of new achievements have been made in the fields of politics, economy and trade, science and technology, energy and the military.

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin via video link in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2021. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

The heads of state have maintained frequent and close contacts in 2021. In May, Xi and Putin witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony of a bilateral nuclear energy cooperation project via video link.

In June, the presidents met via video link to jointly announce the extension of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.

In July, Xi sent a message of condolence to Putin over the crash of a Russian passenger plane. In August, the leaders held a phone conversation to discuss bilateral ties and the Afghan situation.

With China being Russia's top trading partner for many consecutive years, their bilateral trade exceeded 100 billion U.S. dollars in 2018 for the first time and has maintained the momentum despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the first 10 months of this year, China-Russia trade in goods reached a record of 115.6 billion dollars, topping the whole-year volume of 2020, official statistics showed.

Image released by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Dec. 4, 2020 shows China's national flag unfurled from the Chang'e-5 probe on the moon.

In March, China and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding on jointly establishing an international scientific research station on the moon.

The China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation concluded last month, which saw more than 1,000 events for exchanges on scientific innovation and cooperation.

The No. 7 and No. 8 units of the Tianwan nuclear power plant and the No. 3 and No. 4 units of the Xudapu nuclear power plant started construction in May, which are the biggest China-Russia joint project in the field of nuclear energy.

Photo taken on May 18, 2021 shows a construction site where Units 7 and 8 of the Tianwan nuclear power plant are about to be built, in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua)

A joint military exercise between China and Russia, named ZAPAD/INTERACTION-2021, was carried out in northwest China. The two navies conducted their first joint maritime cruise, and the two air forces carried out their third joint strategic aerial patrol.

The two militaries strengthened coordination via participating in the "Peace Mission 2021" counter-terrorism military drill of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states and the International Army Games 2021.

The exercise ZAPAD/INTERACTION-2021 kicks off at a combined arms tactical training base of the PLA Army in Qingtongxia City of West China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on August 9, 2021. (Chinese Ministry of National Defense)

As comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era, China and Russia firmly support each other on major issues concerning each other's core interests, coordinate closely on international affairs, and play a pivotal role in maintaining global peace and stability, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui has said.