By Rhod Mackenzie
Valentina Matviyenko, Speaker of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, said that China would "consistently and persistently" continue cooperation with Russia.
“We discussed many issues of Russian-Chinese cooperation. Despite the new conditions in which we all live, I made a firm conviction that China, as a very responsible, serious state, never adapts to anyone, our relations are not subject to any conjuncture, any external political influence, ”TASS quotes the speaker of the Federation Council .
According to Matvienko, her main conclusion is “that China will consistently and persistently continue cooperation with the Russian Federation, maintain the friendship that exists between our countries and peoples.”
“In the face of China, we can count on a firm, reliable friendly shoulder,” she stressed. The Chairman of the People's Republic of China, the Speaker of the Federation Council, is a wise, confident, educated and independent leader, for whom "defending China's national interests is the main goal of his life."
Matviyenko stressed that neither Moscow nor Beijing would allow anyone to speak to them in “the language of force and threats” and together stand for equal cooperation. “We stand together for preventing interference in internal affairs, for the right of each country to determine its own path and choice in its development,” said Valentina Matvienko.
She also noted that, despite all the difficulties, illegal sanctions and attempts to contain both countries, bilateral trade is growing steadily; there is every reason to believe that by the end of the current year it will overcome the $200 billion mark.
The visit of the delegation of the Russian Parliament to Beijing is taking place at the invitation of the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China (the country's highest legislative body) Zhao Leji.
This article originally appeared in Russian at expert.ru