China, Russia committed to safeguarding int'l justice

China and Russia have reaffirmed their commitment to rejecting unipolar hegemony and safeguarding international fairness and justice, a move that officials and scholars said is conducive to the peace and stability of the region and the world.

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi welcomed Russian Ambassador to China Igor Morgulov to his post on Sunday, saying that China would provide strong support and help to facilitate his work.

Morgulov, who has extensive experience in dealing with China-related issues, was appointed the new Russian ambassador to China in September and arrived in Beijing to assume his duties last month. He took over from Andrey Denisov, who was Moscow's chief envoy in Beijing for more than nine years.

During their talks, Wang, who is a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, said China and Russia will stay committed to promoting a multipolar world.

Both countries adhere to upholding the international system with the United Nations at the core and the international order based on international law, and do not agree with power politics, Wang said. Such a position is in line with the trend of the times and represents the right side of history, he added.

As major neighbors, China and Russia will constantly advance strategic mutual trust and practical cooperation and deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, no matter how the international landscape evolves, Wang said.

Morgulov said the Russia-China relationship is unbreakable and the friendship between the two countries can prevail over any challenge.

Noting that Russia supports China's development and strength, he said Moscow would work with Beijing to reject unipolar hegemony and promote the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination to a new height.

Over the past month, the Russian ambassador has paid visits to senior Chinese officials, including Liu Jianchao, minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, and Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, to strengthen communication and coordination.

Scholars observed that China-Russia relations, under the strategic guidance of the heads of each state, have maintained positive growth momentum and seen high-quality development, setting a good example of relations between major countries.

Data from China's General Administration of Customs showed that trade volume between China and Russia in the first 10 months of the year set a record, exceeding $150 billion and surpassing the total for the whole of last year.

Li Yonghui, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies, said that building a multipolar world benefits global stability, peace and development.

"It reflects the appeals of a vast number of developing countries and helps make the international order and rules fairer and more equitable," she said.

Yang Jin, an associate researcher with the CASS, said that as China and Russia are major countries and permanent members of the UN Security Council, their coordination is of significance to the region and the world.

Facing a global crisis, such as the one in Ukraine, China strikes a balanced and fair position, Yang said. "China neither exerts pressure on Russia nor Ukraine, but facilitates dialogue for peace and the political settlement of the Ukraine issue."

Yang also hailed China and Russia's championing of multilateralism, saying they focus on cooperation to promote development and security.