Russian ties China's foreign policy priority: Xi

Party chief seeks greater political support, coordination with neighbor

China said on Tuesday that ties with Russia are a priority for its foreign policy.

Xi Jinping, China's top political leader and head of the military, stressed this when meeting visiting Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, who is in Beijing for a new round of security talks.

Analysts said that in tackling uncertainties in the Asia-Pacific region, security will be a common task for the two countries.

The consultation at the start of a new year is very timely and necessary, Xi told Patrushev, who is Xi's first foreign guest of 2013.

Xi said that faced with rapid and profound changes in the world, China and Russia should further enhance their political support and coordination on global and regional affairs.

Patrushev said Moscow will further strengthen high-level exchanges and maintain close coordination on major issues with China in 2013.

The delegation led by Patrushev is the second group of Russian visitors Xi has met since he was elected China's Party chief in November.

Sino-Russian relations are at their highest ever level, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the end of 2012.

Patrushev and Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo will co-chair the eighth round of the China-Russia strategic security consultation.

Analysts said the mechanism has served as an important channel for the two countries to have timely communication and coordination on major strategic issues, and is an important platform to deepen mutual trust.

Xing Guangcheng, an expert on Russian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said China and Russia are moving forward along a route of a high degree of mutual trust and close cooperation.

Various mechanisms between the two nations have played an important role in promoting cooperation based on broad common interests and concerns, especially against the backdrop of a complicated international situation, Xing said.

It is important that they cooperate more to promote justice and equality in international issues, Xing added.

Feng Yujun, director of the Institute of Russian Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said tackling uncertainties in the security situation in the Asia-Pacific region will be a common task for the two countries.

However, Feng said that unlike speculation by some Western politicians, China and Russia will never form an alliance, but will fully develop their "comprehensive strategic partnership" to protect their own security and development as well as safeguarding regional stability and world peace.

Feng also said China and Russia treat each other as important for their own development, which clearly indicates the direction for their future pragmatic cooperation, especially in the trade and high-tech sectors.

Read more: Xi: China-Russia ties prioritized in Chinese diplomacy