Russia, China Form New Center of Political Power - Experts
MOSCOW, May 21. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to China and his joint statement with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the impermissibility of interference into other countries’ affairs signal the emergence of a new center of political power. Russian experts believe it could put an end to the unipolar world and US hegemony.
In a joint statement on Ukraine, the leaders said it was important to refrain from unilateral sanctions and financing or encouraging actions aimed at changing another country’s constitutional system.
Though the US was not mentioned, it was obvious whom the statement addressed. Moscow and Beijing also expressed their disapproval of developing missile defense promoted, they say, by the US and its NATO allies.
Traditionally moderate and cautious, China has thus unambiguously demonstrated support for Russia under currently uneasy geopolitical circumstances.
Russia, China to boost partnership, including military ties — Putin
“Russia’s and China’s positions are similar in many respects,” Putin said after the talks in Shanghai.
“We have common priorities globally and regionally," he said, looking at closer coordination in foreign policy, notably in the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the BRICS assembly of developing nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.
Being permanent members of the UN Security Council, Russia and China have long been in unanimity over key global political issues. Their joint statement on Syria also expressed a common position on the need for non-discriminatory and depoliticized resolution of the crisis.
“The new center of political power represented by Russia and China was largely formed before this visit to Shanghai", said Sinologist Andrei Ostrovsky. “The situation in Ukraine and the West’s sanctions against Russia only crystallized Russia’s relations with China and raised them to a brand new footing. If anyone was unaware of the existence of another center of political power, it has now become obvious,” Ostrovsky added.
Russia, China move closer, pursue policy independent of US — Russian expert
“Russia has long been developing economic contacts with China, and trade turnover between the two countries is constantly on the rise,” president of the Diplomatic Academy Evgeny Bazhanov told the Vechernyaya Moskva weekly. “But the leaders repeatedly said the turnover and mutual investments did not live up to the level of political relations between the countries. Neither did they correspond to the economies’ scales - China is set to become the number one economy soon.
Therefore, the signed agreements are another important step to deepen the relations,” the expert added.
Deputy director of the National Strategy Institute Alexander Kostin noted the qualitative change in Chinese policy as a new team came to power at the latest meeting of the Communist Party of China.
“These are quite tough, consistent and bold people, which makes them somehow similar to Vladimir Putin,” Kostin told ITAR-TASS. “They were brought up at the time of China’s brisk economic growth in a unipolar world. New China does not see itself as a younger brother and does not tend to evade controversial issues and concentrate on its internal affairs. Modern China is ready to actively protect its investments without avoiding tough political statements on the international arena, and to fight for its place among the major world powers,” Kostin stressed.
Russia-China defense cooperation major factor for world security — Putin
Director of the Center for Social and Political Studies, military expert Vladimir Evseev says Russian-Chinese naval maneuvres on Wednesday are “evidence of very important military rapprochement of the two countries”. “This process will be accompanied by the formation of a bipolar world order,” he said.
Do regular joint military exercises imply the possibility of a military alliance in the future? Chair at the School of Oriental Studies at the Higher School of Economics Alexei Maslov believes Russia and China will not create and do not need a NATO-like organization.
“The existing mechanisms allow for painless military cooperation, Russia and China feel all right without a military bloc,” said Maslov.
Putin’s visit to Shanghai served as a next stepping stone in the formation of a new political center of Russia and China, which assert “independent policy and their national values”, State Duma Deputy and United Russia party politician Vyacheslav Nikonov told ITAR-TASS.
“Asia Pacific is a global economic growth leader, home to more than half of the world's population and more than half of global GDP,” said the politician. “Russia is a power between Europe and Asia Pacific, and its rapprochement with China is a logical and natural process,” he emphasized.
This year, China is set to become the world’s principal economy and replace the US from the position it has occupied since 1872. It was highly important for Russia to develop ties with the fastest developing economy - “more important than with the stagnating EU economy, for which a decade will not be enough to achieve pre-crisis 2007 levels”, said Nikonov, also head of the National Committee on BRICS Research.
New security architecture should be created in Asia — China president
“Russia and China are the key powers within BRICS - the bloc comprised of five countries accounting for 43% of the world’s population. BRICS countries share common interests, adherence to international law and the idea of a multipolar world. It is no coincidence that the US calls Russia and China its geopolitical rivals,” Nikonov added.
The success of Putin’s visit to China was clear evidence that Russia would not be isolated because of events in Ukraine, said the expert.
ITAR-TASS may not share the opinions of its contributors
Gazprom, CNPC agree on $25 billion advanced payment on gas contract
May 23, 10:06 UTC+4
The price of Russian natural gas supplies to China under a landmark gas deal signed on Wednesday will equal about $350 per 1,000 cubic meters
ST. PETERSBURG, May 23. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian energy giant Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) preliminarily agreed on $25 billion advanced payment on the gas contract, Gazprom Export CEO Alexander Medvedev told reporters on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday.
Russian gas price for China to equal $350 — Ulyukayev
On Thursday, Russian Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev has disclosed the price set for China under the landmark gas contract signed May 21. According to the minister, it will be about $350 per 1,000 cubic meters.
“Gazprom representatives said that the price of deliveries is a commercial secret. In my estimates, it will stand at about $350,” Ulyukayev said in an interview with Bloomberg TV. The price is lower than the average gas price for the EU.
Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) signed a 30-year contract on Russian natural gas supplies to China via the eastern route worth a total of $400 billion. The document was signed in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said the deal envisaging the supply of 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas to China annually was the largest contract for the Russian energy giant.
Putin said after the signing ceremony that Russia and China would also start to work on the western route of natural gas deliveries to China from Western Siberia.
Preferences on MET
The Russian government may introduce preferences on the mineral extraction tax (MET) for producers of gas to be supplied to China only after a thorough discussion, Ulyukayev added.
On Wednesday, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said that the deposits producing gas to be supplied to China will have MET preferences.
“This issue must be discussed. I think that the Finance Ministry will have a different point of view,” Ulyukayev said.
The minister also said that the supplies to China will be profitable.
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| Chinese President Xi Jinping with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. |
In a joint statement on Ukraine, the leaders said it was important to refrain from unilateral sanctions and financing or encouraging actions aimed at changing another country’s constitutional system.
Though the US was not mentioned, it was obvious whom the statement addressed. Moscow and Beijing also expressed their disapproval of developing missile defense promoted, they say, by the US and its NATO allies.
Traditionally moderate and cautious, China has thus unambiguously demonstrated support for Russia under currently uneasy geopolitical circumstances.
Russia, China to boost partnership, including military ties — Putin
“Russia’s and China’s positions are similar in many respects,” Putin said after the talks in Shanghai.
“We have common priorities globally and regionally," he said, looking at closer coordination in foreign policy, notably in the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the BRICS assembly of developing nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.
Being permanent members of the UN Security Council, Russia and China have long been in unanimity over key global political issues. Their joint statement on Syria also expressed a common position on the need for non-discriminatory and depoliticized resolution of the crisis.
“The new center of political power represented by Russia and China was largely formed before this visit to Shanghai", said Sinologist Andrei Ostrovsky. “The situation in Ukraine and the West’s sanctions against Russia only crystallized Russia’s relations with China and raised them to a brand new footing. If anyone was unaware of the existence of another center of political power, it has now become obvious,” Ostrovsky added.
Russia, China move closer, pursue policy independent of US — Russian expert
“Russia has long been developing economic contacts with China, and trade turnover between the two countries is constantly on the rise,” president of the Diplomatic Academy Evgeny Bazhanov told the Vechernyaya Moskva weekly. “But the leaders repeatedly said the turnover and mutual investments did not live up to the level of political relations between the countries. Neither did they correspond to the economies’ scales - China is set to become the number one economy soon.
Therefore, the signed agreements are another important step to deepen the relations,” the expert added.
Deputy director of the National Strategy Institute Alexander Kostin noted the qualitative change in Chinese policy as a new team came to power at the latest meeting of the Communist Party of China.
“These are quite tough, consistent and bold people, which makes them somehow similar to Vladimir Putin,” Kostin told ITAR-TASS. “They were brought up at the time of China’s brisk economic growth in a unipolar world. New China does not see itself as a younger brother and does not tend to evade controversial issues and concentrate on its internal affairs. Modern China is ready to actively protect its investments without avoiding tough political statements on the international arena, and to fight for its place among the major world powers,” Kostin stressed.
Russia-China defense cooperation major factor for world security — Putin
Director of the Center for Social and Political Studies, military expert Vladimir Evseev says Russian-Chinese naval maneuvres on Wednesday are “evidence of very important military rapprochement of the two countries”. “This process will be accompanied by the formation of a bipolar world order,” he said.
Do regular joint military exercises imply the possibility of a military alliance in the future? Chair at the School of Oriental Studies at the Higher School of Economics Alexei Maslov believes Russia and China will not create and do not need a NATO-like organization.
“The existing mechanisms allow for painless military cooperation, Russia and China feel all right without a military bloc,” said Maslov.
Putin’s visit to Shanghai served as a next stepping stone in the formation of a new political center of Russia and China, which assert “independent policy and their national values”, State Duma Deputy and United Russia party politician Vyacheslav Nikonov told ITAR-TASS.
“Asia Pacific is a global economic growth leader, home to more than half of the world's population and more than half of global GDP,” said the politician. “Russia is a power between Europe and Asia Pacific, and its rapprochement with China is a logical and natural process,” he emphasized.
This year, China is set to become the world’s principal economy and replace the US from the position it has occupied since 1872. It was highly important for Russia to develop ties with the fastest developing economy - “more important than with the stagnating EU economy, for which a decade will not be enough to achieve pre-crisis 2007 levels”, said Nikonov, also head of the National Committee on BRICS Research.
New security architecture should be created in Asia — China president
“Russia and China are the key powers within BRICS - the bloc comprised of five countries accounting for 43% of the world’s population. BRICS countries share common interests, adherence to international law and the idea of a multipolar world. It is no coincidence that the US calls Russia and China its geopolitical rivals,” Nikonov added.
The success of Putin’s visit to China was clear evidence that Russia would not be isolated because of events in Ukraine, said the expert.
ITAR-TASS may not share the opinions of its contributors
Gazprom, CNPC agree on $25 billion advanced payment on gas contract
May 23, 10:06 UTC+4
The price of Russian natural gas supplies to China under a landmark gas deal signed on Wednesday will equal about $350 per 1,000 cubic meters
ST. PETERSBURG, May 23. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian energy giant Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) preliminarily agreed on $25 billion advanced payment on the gas contract, Gazprom Export CEO Alexander Medvedev told reporters on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday.
Russian gas price for China to equal $350 — Ulyukayev
On Thursday, Russian Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev has disclosed the price set for China under the landmark gas contract signed May 21. According to the minister, it will be about $350 per 1,000 cubic meters.
“Gazprom representatives said that the price of deliveries is a commercial secret. In my estimates, it will stand at about $350,” Ulyukayev said in an interview with Bloomberg TV. The price is lower than the average gas price for the EU.
Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) signed a 30-year contract on Russian natural gas supplies to China via the eastern route worth a total of $400 billion. The document was signed in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said the deal envisaging the supply of 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas to China annually was the largest contract for the Russian energy giant.
Putin said after the signing ceremony that Russia and China would also start to work on the western route of natural gas deliveries to China from Western Siberia.
Preferences on MET
The Russian government may introduce preferences on the mineral extraction tax (MET) for producers of gas to be supplied to China only after a thorough discussion, Ulyukayev added.
On Wednesday, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said that the deposits producing gas to be supplied to China will have MET preferences.
“This issue must be discussed. I think that the Finance Ministry will have a different point of view,” Ulyukayev said.
The minister also said that the supplies to China will be profitable.
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