Is Russia our friend? The famous Russian politician Karachev hit the nail on the head. The Chinese are neither our allies nor our friends. We are just fellow travelers who happened to be together.
Nowadays, it is said that China-Russia relations are at their best in history. This is true. High-level exchanges between the two countries are quite frequent, and trade volume has been rising. In 2023, it will reach US$240.11 billion, and in the first nine months of 2024, it will reach US$180.36 billion. The momentum is quite strong. Our China has been Russia's largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years, and Russia's ranking among China's trading partner countries has also risen to fourth place. This economic cooperation is indeed very close.
But we have to think, why are we so close together? Mainly because there are needs on both sides of each other. We need Russian energy. Russia has abundant energy reserves. It is very important for our economic development to import their oil and natural gas.
In turn, Russia also needs our market. Such a big consumer market can help them sell things and promote their economic development. Therefore, behind this economic cooperation, it is essentially profit-driven.
In international affairs, China and Russia often speak together in the UN Security Council, the BRICS countries and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to oppose unilateralism, hegemony, and safeguard international fairness.
This seems to be quite united, but in fact it is also because both sides want to have a bigger voice over the world, and neither wants to be bullied by the United States and other Western countries. Russia needs China to support them internationally, and China also needs Russia to work together in order to better compete with Western countries. You see, this is still the interest at work.
When Kalachev said this, he actually reminded us not to think too simply about international relations. How can there be so many pure friendships between countries? Most of the time, interests come first. Our China has always adhered to an independent foreign policy, non-alignment, non-confrontation, or targeting anyone. Russia also has its own national interests. We and Russia have come together on our own development paths because of some common interests and become fellow travelers.
Of course, this is not to say that it is unreliable. As long as the two sides can look at each other's interests and win-win cooperation, then this one can go a long way together. Like now, China-Russia cooperation in the fields of energy, economic trade, military and so on is very deep, these cooperations are beneficial for both sides, as long as this mutually beneficial win-win relationship can beined, then China-Russia relations will be stable.
So Russia is not our friend? From the point of view of Kalachev, from the point of view of actual international relations, they are not our friends in the traditional sense. but this does not affect our cooperation with Russia, we and Russia are peers on the international stage on the basis of interests, and this peer can also play a role together for their own interests and international fairness.
Nowadays, it is said that China-Russia relations are at their best in history. This is true. High-level exchanges between the two countries are quite frequent, and trade volume has been rising. In 2023, it will reach US$240.11 billion, and in the first nine months of 2024, it will reach US$180.36 billion. The momentum is quite strong. Our China has been Russia's largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years, and Russia's ranking among China's trading partner countries has also risen to fourth place. This economic cooperation is indeed very close.
But we have to think, why are we so close together? Mainly because there are needs on both sides of each other. We need Russian energy. Russia has abundant energy reserves. It is very important for our economic development to import their oil and natural gas.
In turn, Russia also needs our market. Such a big consumer market can help them sell things and promote their economic development. Therefore, behind this economic cooperation, it is essentially profit-driven.
In international affairs, China and Russia often speak together in the UN Security Council, the BRICS countries and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to oppose unilateralism, hegemony, and safeguard international fairness.
This seems to be quite united, but in fact it is also because both sides want to have a bigger voice over the world, and neither wants to be bullied by the United States and other Western countries. Russia needs China to support them internationally, and China also needs Russia to work together in order to better compete with Western countries. You see, this is still the interest at work.
When Kalachev said this, he actually reminded us not to think too simply about international relations. How can there be so many pure friendships between countries? Most of the time, interests come first. Our China has always adhered to an independent foreign policy, non-alignment, non-confrontation, or targeting anyone. Russia also has its own national interests. We and Russia have come together on our own development paths because of some common interests and become fellow travelers.
Of course, this is not to say that it is unreliable. As long as the two sides can look at each other's interests and win-win cooperation, then this one can go a long way together. Like now, China-Russia cooperation in the fields of energy, economic trade, military and so on is very deep, these cooperations are beneficial for both sides, as long as this mutually beneficial win-win relationship can beined, then China-Russia relations will be stable.
So Russia is not our friend? From the point of view of Kalachev, from the point of view of actual international relations, they are not our friends in the traditional sense. but this does not affect our cooperation with Russia, we and Russia are peers on the international stage on the basis of interests, and this peer can also play a role together for their own interests and international fairness.