Xi Holds a Virtual Meeting with Putin

“Based on its ideological biases as well as lies and rumors， the u.s. attempts to interfere with the Beijing winter olympics， which will only expose its malicious intention and lead to greater loss of moral authority and credibility. The u.s. practice gravely violates the principle of political neutrality enshrined in the olympic Charter， runs counter to the olympic motto of “together” and stands on the opposite side of global athletes and sports fans.”

– Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said during a regular press conference on December 7， 2021.

“China attaches great importance to the security risks generated by military applications of ai technologies. we call on all countries to embrace a vision of common， comprehensive， cooperative， and sustainable global security， build consensus on regulating military applications of ai through dialogue and cooperation， and establish a universal international mechanism.”？

– Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular press conference on December 14， 2021.

Xi Holds a Virtual Meeting with Putin

Chinese President Xi Jinping had a virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 15， 2021 in Beijing.

President Xi stressed that China-Russia relations have emerged from various kinds of tests to demonstrate new vitality. The two sides have officially announced the renewal of the Treaty of Good-neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. They have extended firm mutual support on issues concerning each other’s core interests， thus defending the national dignity and common interests of both countries.

President Xi pointed out the enormous political advantages and great opportunities in the allround practical cooperation between China and Russia. Bilateral trade in the first three quarters of 2021 exceeded US $100 billion for the first time， and the year-round volume is expected to hit a new record. The China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation has been a big success. Smooth progress is being made in synergizing Belt and Road cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union. The two countries have actively fulfilled their responsibilities as major countries， promoted a united， global response to COVID-19， communicated the true meaning of democracy and human rights， and acted as a bulwark of following true multilateralism and upholding fairness and justice in the world.

President Xi underscored President Putin’s upcoming visit to China and attendance at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics as a concrete action of supporting China’s work as the host. The two presidents will have exchanged visits to Olympic Games held in each other’s countries， and the two countries will hold the Year of Sports Exchange during the next two years.

President Xi pointed out that China and Russia need to launch more joint actions to uphold the security interests of the two sides more effectively. China and Russia need to step up coordination and collaboration in international affairs， be more vocal on global governance， come up with feasible solutions to the pandemic， climate change， and other global issues， and firmly uphold international fairness and justice in the process of resolving international and regional issues.

President Putin said that the Russia-China relationship is at its best in history with a high degree of strategic mutual trust. It has set an example for delivering mutual benefit on the basis of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs and mutual respect for each other’s interests. It can be hailed as a model of state-to-state relations in the 21st century. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good-neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation， and the two sides have officially announced the renewal of the Treaty. Overcoming the impact of COVID-19， both sides have maintained close interaction， made steady progress in practical cooperation in all areas including trade， energy， and science and technology， and conducted communication and coordination on international and regional issues.

Li Keqiang Holds the Sixth “1+6” Roundtable

On December 6， Premier Li Keqiang held the Sixth “1+6” Roundtable via video link in Beijing with leaders of major international economic institutions， including President David Malpass of the World Bank Group， Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva of the International Monetary Fund， Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of the World Trade Organization， Director-General Guy Ryder of the International Labor Organization， Secretary-General Mathias Cormann of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development， and Chair Klaas Knot of the Financial Stability Board. The roundtable saw in-depth exchanges on promoting world economic recovery and sustainable post-pandemic growth， steady economic development of China and others.

China’s economy has been deeply integrated into the world economy， and China will open its door still wider， Li Keqiang said. China has continued to relax market access to foreign investment， actively participated in regional economic cooperation， pushed for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership （RCEP）， which will take effect in early 2022， and applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership （CPTPP） and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement （DEPA）.

The leaders of the participating international economic institutions spoke positively of the steady development of China’s economy against the impact of the pandemic and its positive spillovers to the world economic recovery. They indicated that they are ready to step up coordination and cooperation with China to jointly promote strong， inclusive， and sustainable growth of the world economy.

Cypriot President Meets with Yang Jiechi

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades met with Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi in Nicosia on December 4， 2021.

President Xi Jinping and President Nicos Anastasiades reached an important consensus on the further development of China-Cyprus relations during their recent phone conversation， and jointly decided to upgrade China-Cyprus relations to a strategic partnership. Noting that 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries， both sides should take this opportunity to strengthen strategic mutual trust， firmly support each other’s core interests and major concerns， actively expand cooperation in such areas as economy and trade， telecommunications， transportation， and clean energy， and promote cultural and educational exchanges， so as to promote greater development of China-Cyprus ties.

President Anastasiades said that the establishment of the Cyprus-China strategic partnership marks a new milestone in bilateral ties. Cyprus firmly supports the one-China policy and will continue to remain committed to the concepts of mutual respect， equal treatment， and mutual benefit to deepen bilateral relations. Cyprus stands ready to work with China to further enhance high-level exchanges as well as exchanges and cooperation in areas such as economy and trade， culture， tourism， and education. Cyprus is willing to actively play a constructive role in supporting the EU in strengthening dialogue and cooperation with China.

state Councilor wang Yi made a remark at the 14th Bali Democracy Forum held on December 9：

“As an ancient Chinese saying goes， ‘People can reach the same destination via multiple paths， and achieve the same goal through different means.’ Countries have different ways to achieve democracy. There is no single correct form of democracy for others to worship， and no democracy is superior to others. We have full confidence in our democracy， and we also fully respect other countries’ democracy.”

Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu noted at the opening ceremony of the 2021 south-south Human Rights Forum on December 8：

“The outbreak of COVID-19 teaches us again that the rights to subsistence and development are the primary human rights. We should always put our people and their lives first， give top priority to the safety and health of each person， and defend the value and dignity of every human life. We should join hands to battle the pandemic， work for higher-quality， more efficient， equitable， sustainable， and secure development， ensure and enhance people’s wellbeing and promote and protect human rights in the course of development.”