China’s Foreign minister pledges support for Russia

BEIJING - China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s press conference in Beijing at China’s "lianghui" (joint sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) revolved around three major points: 1) China’s pledge to support Russia in the face of Western sanctions; 2) Criticisms of Japan over “its recalcitrance over World War II history”; and 3) Making clear that China views the U.S. as an equal, not a superior.

Claiming that Sino-Russian relations were based on “mutual need” and “not affected by international vicissitudes,” Wang said China would work to increase trade to an annual US$100 billion a year while intensifying co-operation in sectors including finance and energy, despite Russia facing sanctions over its annexation of Crimea and the conflict in Ukraine.

Additionally, the two countries will cooperate on the Silk Road Economic Belt, the development of Russia’s Far Eastern region, high-speed railways, and construction of both eastern and western routes of natural gas pipelines. www.webershandwick.com (ATI).