China will set high priority to implement its Silk Road projects this year, with Russia as its core partner.
Addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People’s Congress (NPC), Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China’s diplomacy in 2015 will focus on making all around progress in the “Belt and Road” initiatives.
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Mr. Wang was referring to the twin initiatives — the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st century Maritime Silk Road — which are the pillars for the integration of Eurasian economies, with China as its anchor.
Analysts say that Russia will be China’s key partner in the open-ended “Belt and Road” initiative, which aims to establish a transportation corridor, which starting from Xian in China, will terminate in Europe.
It would also be nourished by Indian Ocean ports, which would be linked to the Eurasian land route by designated economic corridors.
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China-Russia strategic cooperation will focus on the development of Russia’s Far Eastern region, the Foreign Minister observed.
China and Russia will continue to intensify their cooperation in the financial, as well as nuclear power sectors as well.
Mr. Wang rejected comparisons between the “one belt one road” initiatives of the Marshall Plan, which was meant to resurrect war-ravaged Western economies in the throes of the Cold War. “They [one belt one road initiatives] are the product of inclusive cooperation, not a tool of geopolitics, and must not be viewed with the outdated cold war mentality,” observed Mr. Wang.
Both countries will hold a series of activities to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory in World War II with a view to reinforce the sentiment against war.