Dear President Hu Jintao,
Friends, ladies and gentlemen,
Today, we launched the Year of Russia in China, which is a landmark event. This activity fully embodies the theme of healthy and rapid development of cooperation between the two countries. It is no exaggeration to say that today's Russian-Chinese relations are a model of good-neighborliness and mutual respect. The development of Russia-China relations is conducive to improving the international status of the two countries and promoting the modernization process of the two countries.
President Hu Jintao and I decided to hold the Year of the Country for two consecutive years. On the one hand, we hope to show the development achievements of our two countries, and at the same time, we hope to push the cooperation between our two countries to a new level. We believe that the "Year of the Country" is an extremely important, large-scale and far-reaching systematic project, which will play an important role in enhancing the friendship and mutual understanding between the two peoples.
The Year of Russia includes more than 200 projects, dozens of which have been implemented. The activities of "Year of Russia" are rich in content, covering all fields of bilateral cooperation, including industrial cooperation and research exchange. The government departments, business circles, art circles and ordinary people of the two countries are very supportive of holding such a grand event. Many people participated in the implementation. The enthusiasm of Russian places is also unprecedented, and 40% of the suggestions for the "Year of Russia" activities were put forward by them. Some Russian Federation districts will hold promotional activities in China, and Moscow Day and St. Petersburg Day will also be held. We hope that the interesting activities of "Russian Year" will leave a deep and unforgettable impression on our friends in China.
Despite the tortuous history of Russia and China, the two peoples still maintain a profound friendship. We now have a deeper understanding of the strategic significance of bilateral exchanges and hope to further strengthen such exchanges and cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples. Under the guidance of this spirit, the political dialogue between the two countries has made a major breakthrough.
Russia and China are both world powers. The development of bilateral relations is not only an important factor of geopolitical stability, but also a model of open international cooperation. Not targeting third countries is conducive to promoting a more perfect international order. Our two countries have cooperated closely in the international arena, cooperated closely in many international organizations and established some new international organizations.
The economies of Russia and China are in the growth stage, which is beneficial to the development of bilateral economic cooperation. Russia will fully demonstrate its economic achievements during the fairs in Harbin, Shenzhen and Shanghai. With regard to specific issues in this regard, we can make full use of the economic and commercial summit forum to be held tomorrow.
The purpose of holding a series of special activities of "Year of Russia" is to promote the diversification of bilateral trade and broaden the areas of cooperation, including investment cooperation and local cooperation. One of the important activities is the Russian National Exhibition to be held in Beijing on June 5438+ 10, hoping to further promote the substantive dialogue between the two countries through these activities. Today, millions of people from both sides have participated in Russian-Chinese cooperation, and the business circles, scientific research institutions, youth organizations and social groups of the two countries have also made joint efforts to this end. They put forward many new suggestions and new ways of cooperation on Russian-Chinese relations, such as jointly establishing universities and graduate schools. There is a great demand for educational services between Russia and China. Therefore, the two sides will hold a series of educational exchange activities under the framework of "Year of Russia". Besides, there will be some exchanges in the fields of sports and news. Cultural exchanges between the two countries have been continuously strengthened. Nowadays, more and more Russians are learning Chinese, and they are interested in China culture. I believe that the Russian Cultural Festival will attract the extensive attention of friends in China, add luster to the "Year of Russia" and bring new vitality and vigor to the exchanges between the two peoples. I believe that holding the "Year of Russia" in China will definitely bring closer relations between the two countries.
Full text of Hu's speech:
Dear President Putin:
Ladies and gentlemen, friends,
Today is the vernal equinox of China lunar calendar. On this beautiful spring night, I am very happy to attend the opening ceremony of "Year of Russia" with President Putin. This is a common festival for the Chinese and Russian people. First of all, on behalf of the government of China and the people of China, I would like to extend a warm welcome to President Putin, all members of the Russian delegation and Russian artists who participated in the performance tonight! Best wishes to the great Russian people!
China and Russia are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, and the friendship between the Chinese and Russian peoples goes back to ancient times. For a long time, the two peoples have understood and supported each other and forged a profound friendship. In particular, we will not forget that in the great struggle of the people of China against Japanese militaristic aggression, many heroic Russian sons and daughters gave their precious lives on the land of China. In particular, we will not forget that at the beginning of the founding of New China, the Russian people extended a hand of friendship and provided all kinds of assistance to the people of China in building a new country. This friendship condensed with blood and sincerity is firmly remembered in the hearts of the two peoples and has become an important source of strength for the development of Sino-Russian relations.
10 years ago, according to the profound changes in the international situation after the end of the cold war and the strategic needs of the development of bilateral relations, China and Russia decided to establish a strategic cooperative partnership, which opened a new chapter in the development of Sino-Russian relations. /kloc-since 0/0, our two countries have signed the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, close cooperation and mutual support, put forward the peace concept of "friendship from generation to generation and never being enemies", strengthened pragmatic cooperation in various fields, and cooperated closely in international affairs, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples and making important contributions to promoting world peace, stability and prosperity.
Both China and Russia have a long history and splendid culture, are vigorously developing their economies and improving people's lives, and shoulder the great responsibility of safeguarding world peace and promoting common development. Strengthening exchanges between the two great peoples of China and Russia and strengthening cooperation between the two countries in various fields will help enhance mutual understanding and traditional friendship between the two peoples and promote the all-round development of bilateral relations.
The holding of the "Year of the Country" between China and Russia is an important step taken by both sides to promote the continuous development of bilateral relations and the friendship between the two peoples for generations. The purpose is to deepen friendship and close cooperation, and push China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership to a new level. After the opening ceremony tonight, colorful activities of "Russian Year" will be launched in China. I believe that with the strong support of the two governments and the extensive participation of all walks of life in the two countries, the "Year of Russia" will be a complete success.
The great Russian writer lev tolstoy once said that friends are eternal wealth. Both President Putin and I believe that China and Russia should always be good neighbors, good partners and good friends. Let's work together to promote the continuous development of Sino-Russian friendship, benefit the two peoples and make new and greater contributions to the lofty cause of peace and development of mankind.
I don't know Russian. I don't know if I'm looking for what you want.
Q: When people see that Iran and Syria support Hezbollah and indirectly support Hamas, can we still believe in peace? Syria has always hoped or said it would destroy Israel or wipe it off the map. When these factors exist in this region, have the seeds of war been sown?
A: First of all, we should always believe that there will be peace. Nothing is more dangerous than accepting or allowing spiritual questioning of peace. Secondly, we should serve this belief. I mean, we should use international pressure and necessary means. This is what we did at the G8 Summit. I believe there will be peace. I firmly believe that peace will eventually be restored in the region, first in Lebanon, and I hope that peace will also be achieved between Palestine and Israel.
Q: The G8 Summit called for the implementation of UN resolution 1559. Today, Lebanon has been destroyed and bombed, and the Lebanese government is weak and unable to implement United Nations resolution 1559. Will the G8 allow Israel to bomb Lebanon? As the President of France and a friend of Lebanon, do you ask the President of the United States to let Israel stop bombing Lebanon, because this is what Lebanese expect of France?
A: First of all, we, of course, not only France, but all G-8 countries have the greatest reservations about Israel's overreaction. Secondly, we call for an end to the bombing. In fact, the purpose of bombing has nothing to do with the prospect of peace. As a result, besides causing casualties and victims, it also destroys daily life.
One thing is certain, that is, there is provocative behavior in the whole incident, and as we all know, this is what people call the old vicious circle in 1958: "provocation-repression". I think that under special circumstances, this is a trap for Palestinians or Lebanese in Gaza, and no one will be unaware of it. Whoever opens this trap will bear a heavy responsibility, especially for the victims. This is why we believe that international pressure must be exerted to promote the implementation of United Nations resolution 1559. That is to say, disarm all militias in the shortest possible time and restore the Lebanese democratic government to exercise full power over all Lebanese territory.
There is no other solution, and all other suggestions and solutions will inevitably lead to continuous crisis, pain and killing. Lebanese should understand that no government, especially a democratic government, can survive if it cannot exercise full power over all its territory, if it allows armed personnel to obey unknown people and places, and suddenly causes the situation we see today.
Lebanese should understand that they have chosen the road of reconstruction, especially democracy, stability and national sovereignty under the leadership of the former government. They should strongly condemn all those who are influenced by external factors and question today's achievements, which are the stability and tranquility that Lebanese deserve.
Q: Mr. President, the United Nations unanimously adopted a resolution on North Korea's missile test, but North Korea immediately said it would not accept it. What should I do in the face of this situation? What can French cooperation with China and Japan do?
A: We discussed the situation in the Middle East and Lebanon. In this regard, France has some indisputable right to speak, which is undeniable. People also saw it in the discussion this afternoon.
On the North Korean issue, France expressed its support for the resolution, but made no major suggestions. We support the resolution proposed by Japan and supported by the United Nations. In this regard, we unconditionally support the proposals put forward by the United States, Japan, China and the Russian Federation.
Q: Mr. President, I also want to go back to Lebanon: the day before yesterday (probably) you proposed to achieve a permanent ceasefire. Why didn't the G8 Summit continue to work in the direction you proposed?
A: But this summit has made efforts in this direction! I don't have the latest text at hand because I just got off the phone with Mr. Putin. But this is very clear. I can assure you that all members of the G8 have called for a ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza. There is no doubt that we have talked about everything.
Q: Many citizens living in the former Soviet Union hope that the G8 summit will discuss "freezing conflicts", especially in Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. What is France's position on this issue, especially on the conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia?
This question is on tomorrow's agenda. Thank you all