President Xi Jinping meets with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Brasilia, capital of Brazil, on Nov 13, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]

Leaders engage in their fourth phone talks since the outbreak of COVID-19

President Xi Jinping reaffirmed on Wednesday China's stance toward Russia of supporting each other, opposing external interference and safeguarding both countries' national sovereignty, security and development interests.

Xi made the remark in a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. It is the two leaders' fourth phone conversation since the outbreak of COVID-19.

Russia sent a signal to the world in hosting its Victory Day parade last month of its firm will to remember history and safeguard peace, Xi said.

Russian voters' recent overwhelming approval of the nation's constitutional amendments fully demonstrates the support of the Russian people for the government, Xi said.

Xi said China will always support a development path for Russia that fits its own national situation and also support Russia's efforts to achieve development and vitalization.

Adding that the international situation is changing rapidly, Xi said China and Russia, as comprehensive strategic partners of coordination, have a great need to enhance strategic communication.

China and Russia have supported and helped each other at the height of the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has injected new elements to China-Russia relations in the new era, Xi said.

The two nations should take flexible measures to speed up the resumption of work and production in all areas while making long-term efforts to fight pandemics, he added.

Xi said the two countries should enhance cooperation in such areas as high technology, research on the development of vaccines and other medicines and biological security.

China would like to strengthen coordination with Russia under multilateral frameworks including the United Nations, maintain multilateralism, oppose hegemony and unilateralism, safeguard global justice and make more contributions to improving global governance and building a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.

Putin said that the adoption of Russia's constitutional amendments by a large percentage of the vote is good for maintaining the political stability of Russia in the long run, safeguarding national sovereignty and opposing foreign interference.

Both Russia and China cherish their national sovereignty and security and the two countries have always supported each other, he said, adding that their mutual support during the pandemic and China's participation in Russia's Victory Day parade attested to their close relations.

Affirming that Russia-China relations are experiencing their best time in history, Putin said that Russia firmly supports China's efforts to safeguard its national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and opposes all provocations that undermine China's national sovereignty. Russia believes that China is fully capable of achieving long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong, he added.

Russia-China relations are the highest priority in Russia's diplomacy, Putin said, adding that Russia would like to make joint efforts with China to promote practical cooperation, strengthen coordination under multilateral frameworks and safeguard global strategic stability and security.

Putin also expressed his sympathies for damaging floods that have occurred in many parts of southern China, and Xi thanked Putin for the sympathy.