Chinese President Xi Jinping's presence at the Victory Day parade at Moscow's Red Square on Saturday is of great symbolic significance and bears tremendous meaning, said overseas experts and scholars. [Special coverage]
They said Xi's presence confirmed the two countries' resolve to uphold the post-war world order and safeguard world peace.
"For Russia, this is highly important and symbolic that Chinese leader comes to Moscow...The same is true for the upcoming visit of (Russian President) Vladimir Putin to Beijing for celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II (WWII) in the Asia-Pacific," said Andrei Kortunov, Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council.
According to Kortunov, Russia-China joint celebrations are instrumental to preserve the historical truth about who was who during WWII in the public opinion in Russia and worldwide.
"Decision to jointly celebrate the 70th anniversary of the victory is a serious message to the world that the two (countries) wouldn't let anyone to revise the results of WWII," said Yuri Tavrovsky, a professor at Russia's Peoples Friendship University.
Consolidated position of Russia and China over such key historical events as WWII allows of correctly accenting the confrontation with modern fascism, said Eugeny Zaitsev, chief of the Center for Chinese Studies in Department of Journalism, Moscow State University.
"That position stands on objective facts. Distortion of these facts could result in repetition of the tragic events of the past and new enormous casualties," Zaitsev said, adding that the role of Russia and China as the U.N. Security Council permanent members is a kind of counter balance which keeps the modern world from sliding to the abyss of armed conflicts.
Pavel Negoitsa, Pavel Negoitsa, director-general of the Russian Gazette, said that Xi's visit to Moscow and Putin's upcoming visit to Beijing are the signs of good will and desire to remind everyone that historical lessons could not be buried.
"I hope such demonstration of unity will strength our cooperation and strategic partnership and will be a guarantee we together could confront all the efforts to revise history," Negoitsa added.
Meanwhile, the experts and scholars also pointed out that Xi's presence at the parade also confirmed the two countries' mutual trust, solidarity and mutually beneficial cooperation.
According to Zaitsev, Xi's visit to Moscow and his presence at the V-Day parade is another confirmation that the program of strategic partnership has been successfully implemented.
"This is not only a one-off sign of respect from Chinese leader but a persuasive sign of China's serious intentions to develop long-term relations with Russia as a good neighbor and mutually beneficial partner," said the expert.
"Chinese and Soviet people strengthened their cooperation by blood. This is a very solid foundation for relations," said Tavrovsky.
The professor pointed out that Russia-China relations are very good but their cooperation could be wider, saying the China-proposed Silk Road project could give more opportunities for development of Russia's infrastructure.
"There is a mutual interest to coordinate our Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) internationalist initiative with China's Silk Road project. I think Xi and Putin's meeting will help to implement that potential," said the professor, expressing the hope that the meeting in Moscow would become a new stimulus for faster rapprochement.
Zaitsev pointed out that the highest level of trust between Russian and Chinese leaders doubtlessly might and could be converted into sustainable and efficient cooperation in all directions.
"In that regard, cooperation at all levels over environmental protection and humanitarian exchange should be activated in practical terms," said the expert, adding that peaceful policy of modern China could be well seen through its economic initiatives.
"The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Economic Belt could be mentioned as examples," said Zaitsev, stressing that while the United States has created and expanded the instability zone from Libya to Afghanistan, China offers peace and development, and its Silk Road initiative organically incorporates the Russian plans for the trans-Eurasian railroad and the Euro-Asian Economic Union.
"Obviously, beside economic benefits, their participation could solve a task of building a reliable foundation for peaceful development in Europe and Asia," said Zaitsev.
Echoing Zaitsev's opinions, Kortunov said Russia and China have already built a sound base for their economic cooperation, and now they should decide the direction of further movement.
"The two countries might jointly develop numerous infrastructure projects, and projects in new technologies, energy and IT," said Kortunov.
The expert also pointed out that Xi's attendance of the V-Day celebrations in Moscow is a sign that China successfully defends its right for independent foreign policy.
"It demonstrates that China is not going to be anyone's, including the West, 'junior partner' on the global arena. Chinese diplomacy shows its independence and self-reliance when it comes to the hot issues in the international affairs," said the expert.
