Spotlight: Xi's visit to deepen, celebrate China-Russia relations

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will devise a strategic blueprint for the future development of Sino-Russia relations, and show their determination to jointly uphold global peace and commemorate the outcome of World War II (WWII) during Xi's upcoming visit to Russia.

As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Facist War, China and Russia, two main battlefields in Asia and Europe during the war, will both hold a series of celebrations.

The celebrations are of great significance and have attracted worldwide attention as they shows the high regard China has for Russia both as a strategic partner and friend, and vice versa.

As allies fighting together against German Nazism and Japanese militarism during WWII and permanent members of the United Nations, China and Russia are determined to uphold world peace, stability and development, and to treasure their friendship.

The China-Russia relationship has been fruitful in the past. During the past two years, their heads of state have met eight times, reaching a series of important consensus on bilateral cooperation in all areas.

During their meeting in May, they are expected to add new content to bilateral ties and break new ground together, showing their relationship has entered a new development phase.

As Russia has decided to develop its Far East, China is stepping up its efforts to further open its west while pursuing an overall opening-up to the outside world. This has brought a rare historic opportunity to link the two countries' development strategies.

A major step to grasp the opportunity is to link China's Silk Road Economic Belt initiative with Russia's idea of creating a cross-Eurasia passage and speeding up its Far East development, along with more cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union, which will open up new opportunities for their pragmatic cooperation and inject fresh impetus into the overall development of Eurasia.

Russia is one of the prospective founding members of the China-proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Analysts believe that the country will benefit both economically and strategically from the membership.

In sum, Xi's upcoming visit attests that China and Russia are deepening and celebrating their old friendship marked by successful cooperation and win-win results, while simultaneously adding new facets to their strategic partnership. Endi