Leonid Kalashnikov: CSTO’s Positive Role in Russia–China Cooperation is Undeniable

Following the Russia–China talks, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, made statements to the media.

“Russia and China strongly oppose any state or bloc harming the legitimate interests of other states in order to gain military, political or economic advantages,” Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, said.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping noted that Sino-Russian ties “have gone far beyond bilateral relations and are of vital importance to the modern world order and the fate of humanity.” 

During the talks, the two leaders stressed the CSTO’s important role in developing Russia–China cooperation.

“CSTO’s positive role in Russia–China cooperation is undeniable. Asian states are both ours and China’s neighbours. And everything that happened in Kazakhstan concerns both Russia and the PRC. I certainly do not exclude the possibility of China one day becoming a member of the CSTO, but for now we are talking about a non-aligned status,” Leonid Kalashnikov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots, said in his comments to the CSTO PA press service.

A joint statement noting the positive contribution of the CSTO to the development of cooperation between Russia and the PRC to ensure peace and stability has been published on the Kremlin website.