러시아는 중국과의 관계를 `새로운 수준’으로 끌어올리기를 희망한다고 러시아 외교부가 30일 밝혔습니다.
러시아 외무부는 이날 “러중 양국간 협력의 잠재력은 전혀 고갈되지 않은 것으로 확신한다”며 이같이 말했습니다.
그러면서, 양국간 2천억 달러 규모의 무역 목표를 예상 보다 앞당겨 달성하고 중국과의 관계를 “상당히 심화시키는” 것을 목표로 하고 있다고 밝혔습니다.
이런 가운데 중국의 외교사령탑인 왕이 공산당 중앙외사판공실 주임이 다음달 러시아를 방문할 예정이라고 러시아 일간 `베도모스티’ 신문이 이날 보도했습니다.
이 신문은 왕 주임이 방문 중 블라디미르 푸틴 대통령을 면담할 수 있다며, 다가오는 시진핑 국가주석의 러시아 방문 준비와 관련이 있을 가능성을 제기했습니다.
한편 마오닝 중국 외교부 대변인은 정례브리핑에서 왕 주임의 러시아 방문에 대해 묻는 질문에, 그런 만남에 대해 알지 못한다고 대답했습니다.
푸틴 대통령과 시 주석은 지난해 9월 상하이협력기구 정상회의가 열린 우즈베키스탄 사마르칸트에서 만나 미국에 맞서는 전략적 협력을 강화해 나가기로 했었습니다.
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*이 기사는 Reuters를 참조했습니다.
MOSCOW, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Russia said on Monday that it wanted to take ties with China to a "new level" and was looking forward to face-to-face talks with Beijing's leadership as a Russian newspaper reported that China's top diplomat would visit Moscow in February.
"We are convinced that the potential for Russian-Chinese bilateral cooperation is still far from exhausted," Russia's foreign ministry said.
Russia aims to reach its target of $200 billion worth of trade between the two countries ahead of schedule and to "significantly deepen" its ties with Beijing, it said.
The deepening "no limits" partnership between the rising superpower of China and the natural resources titan of Russia is being watched by the West with some anxiety, though it is unclear just how deep the partnership is.
China has refrained from condemning Russia's operation against Ukraine or calling it an "invasion" in line with the Kremlin which casts the war as "a special military operation."
After the West imposed the most severe sanctions in modern history on Moscow due to the war in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin says Russia is turning towards Asia - and China in particular - after centuries of looking to the West as the crucible of economic growth, technology and war.
The Russian foreign ministry's comments came shortly after Russia's Vedomosti newspaper reported that China's chief diplomat Wang Yi was set to visit Moscow in February.
According to the newspaper, Wang may visit Putin during his stay. The purpose of Wang's visit is unclear but may be related to preparations for an upcoming visit to Russia by Chinese President Xi Jinping, it added.
When asked about the potential visit by Wang Yi, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a regular briefing that she was not yet aware of such a meeting.