CRI听力:China, Russia Pledge to Deepen Cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, soon after his arrival in Russia for a three-day visit.

Xi Jinping says the two leaders have agreed to boost bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and the G20.

"BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other multilateral associations can do a lot of good. The Chinese side fully supports Russia's chairmanship in these two organizations this year. We are ready to apply efforts jointly with the Russian side so that these two organizations make an even more significant contribution to peace, development and prosperity."

The two heads of state later inked a joint statement, reaffirming their commitment to integrating the Belt initiative with the EAEU construction.

Putin says he believes that his project for a trade and infrastructure network across Eurasia and China's Silk Road economic belt can "complement each other perfectly".

"Separately we have touched upon the issue of cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Union and China. We believe that the project of Eurasian integration and the Silk Road economic belt can complement each other perfectly. And the notion of joining these integration models is included in the joint statement we signed with President Xi Jinping."

The two leaders also oversaw the signing of a series of cooperation deals on such subjects as energy, transportation, space, finance and media exchanges, including a gas pipeline project to link Russia and China.
Xi Jinping will also join in commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe, including a military parade to be held at the Red Square later on today.

Xi Jinping says the reason for anniversary celebrations is to remember history, and prevent the tragedy of world wars from happening again.

"When we will be celebrating our common victory together, we do not mean to hate any specific countries, but rather we simply pay our respects to the fallen heroes, so that they remain in our memory and our history, so that the tragedy of war will never repeat in history again, to build peace on our planet together. These are our objectives for these anniversary celebrations."

Xi Jinping also invites the Russian leader to attend war commemorations in China on Sept. 3.

Putin accepted, saying Russia and China had suffered the biggest number of casualties among their nationals of all countries involved in the war.