Russia-China relations serve as an example of partnership for other countries and is of great significance to global stability, Russian experts have said.
Noting that 2020 is an extraordinary year for the world, they said in recent interviews with Xinhua that the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era between the two countries is a good example of partnership for others, and has made great contributions to maintaining global strategic stability.
Chinese President Xi Jinping held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, during which the two heads of state exchanged new year greetings and wished the people in both countries a happy new year.
Russia-China relations promote stability as well as socio-economic development in both countries, Andrey Karneev, professor and head of the School of Asian Studies of Russia's Higher School of Economics said.
He noted that Russia and China take very similar stances over many issues on the international agenda, adding that "the two countries don't advocate striving for selfish interests, but seek to promote the overall progress of the global community."
"This is what underlies the significance of both our relations," Karneev said.
"This year, we saw how the situation evolved in a difficult way. The role of Russia-China relations in stabilizing the entire system of international relations has clearly been demonstrated," Professor Yana Leksyutina of St. Petersburg State University said.
The New Development Bank, in which Russia and China are founding countries, has decided to allocate huge amounts of money to help countries to overcome the virus and socio-economic problems caused by the pandemic, she said, adding that many countries have already received the aid.
"This is one of the striking examples showing how Russia and China, together with their BRICS partners, were able to play such a significant role in addressing the problems associated with the pandemic," Leksyutina said.
"In 2020, Russia and China played a stronger role in global and regional relations, and they have become leading countries that support global stability, multilateralism, and openness," Sergei Luzyanin, professor at Moscow State Institute of International Relations under the Russian Foreign Ministry, told Xinhua.
The year of 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.
The treaty is an important milestone in the history of the two countries, which has laid a solid foundation for the development of bilateral relations, Karneev said, adding that the 20th anniversary is an opportune time to further discuss the prospects of bilateral relations.
"In these 20 years, relations have developed on an upward trend," Leksyutina said, voicing hope that the two sides will further expand and deepen bilateral cooperation in a larger scope, especially in the field of science and technology.
Leksyutina added that the two countries respect each other's fundamental interests and have established strategic trust.
