Russia says interregional cooperation plays important role in strengthening ties with China

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday that interregional cooperation plays a key role in strengthening bilateral ties between Russia and China and that there is a “steady interest” in implementing joint projects.

“Interregional cooperation has traditionally been an important component in strengthening the multifaceted complex of our relations,” Lavrov said during a meeting of heads of Russian regions in Moscow, adding that there is a steady interest in the implementation of joint projects between Moscow and Beijing, primarily in the economic and educational spheres.

Expressing that there has been a “sharp increase” in exchanges between Russian and Chinese regions since the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, Lavrov said the intensity of contacts in trade, economic, cultural, humanitarian, educational and other spheres has increased significantly.

“Our ministry provides the necessary assistance in organizing visits to China by delegations from our regions … Often delegations are headed directly by governors, which, without a doubt, increases the effectiveness of the dialogue,” he further said.

Lavrov also said that Moscow considers interregional ties as an integral part of Russian-Chinese relations, adding that his country sees additional opportunities in bilateral interactions on international platforms with the participation of Russian and Chinese regions.

“First of all, these are BRICS, which Russia chairs this year, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), where, on the initiative of the Chelyabinsk region, a useful format has been created, an annual forum of heads of regions of SCO member countries," he said.

“We proceed from the fact that the potential of interregional interaction is far from being exhausted, and new international realities are opening up wide opportunities for its further development and how to use it in practice,” he went on to say.