Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the opening ceremony of an exhibition marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations with China, Moscow, October 3, 2024

Your Excellency Mr Ambassador,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Friends,

It is a great honour and privilege for us to welcome you to the exhibition marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Russia and China.

I would like to thank the senior executives and staff from the First Asian Department, as well as the Department of History and Records, for organising today’s event to a very high professional standard. This exhibition presents unique documents and photo images highlighting the key reference points in our relations.

Our two countries established diplomatic relations on October 2, 1949, the day after the People’s Republic of China appeared on the world’s political map. Taking this opportunity, I would like to once again extend my congratulations to His Excellency Ambassador Zhang Hanhui and all our Chinese friends on the PRC’s 75th anniversary.

Moscow was the first capital to recognise the newly established China. Our country became a reliable friend to Beijing and assisted it in the early days of its state-building efforts. The Communist Party of China led the people of China in their liberation struggle, and the party’s history is closely linked to the Soviet Union and the Comintern – the Communist International. With the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory approaching in 2025, I cannot fail to mention that we were comrades in arms during World War II.

We have come a long way over the past 75 years, and have accumulated a wealth of experience as you can see from the exhibits presented here. It is through their wisdom and restraint that Russia and China have been able to serve as role models in developing genuinely comprehensive and strategic state-to-state relations.

Meaningful and trust-based dialogue at the highest level plays a key role in strengthening our cooperation in various domains. It is quite symbolic that Vladimir Putin chose China as a destination for his first trip abroad after starting his term in May 2024 following the presidential election. A year prior to that, Xi Jinping visited Moscow right after his re-election as President of China. This year, the two leaders also had a meeting in Astana on the sidelines of the SCO summit. We are looking forward to welcoming the PRC President at the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October.

Overall, consistent years-long joint efforts under the guidance of our leaders have elevated our relations to unprecedented heights. It is highly satisfying for me that in the current geopolitical environment, the comprehensive strategic partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China have demonstrated their solid and mature nature and continue to facilitate our countries’ development in all its aspects and improve the wellbeing of our peoples. We are stepping up our trade, economic and cultural and educational ties. Moscow and Beijing have been working in tandem to ensure global stability and build a multipolar world order with greater justice for all.

It is clear that we can resolve any matters and overcome any challenges in the spirit of eternal friendship, neighbourly relations, mutual respect and mutual benefit.

Friends,

There will be many events in the coming days to mark this 75th anniversary, and this exhibition is one of them. I am certain that it will help preserve historical memory and promote the values shaping the Russia-China friendship, attracting the attention it deserves in Moscow.