Foreign and Military Affairs

Upholding truth of history

By Sun Shangwu (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-10 07:24

Russia, China share same views on WWII, vow to enhance relations

MOSCOW - Leaders from China and Russia defended the authenticity of history as Russia staged grand celebrations to mark the 65th anniversary of Russia's victory in the Great Patriotic War against Nazi Germany.

In meeting Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Sunday, Chinese President Hu Jintao said he agreed with Medvedev that "there is profound meaning for countries to jointly celebrate the anniversary," according to Russia Information Agency Novosti.

China and Russia have the same views on World War II and the two countries should defend the authenticity of history, Hu said.

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The meeting was the second between the two leaders in less than a month. Hu and Medvedev met in Brasilia on April 15 on the sidelines of a summit of the BRIC nations - Brazil, Russia, India and China. The two are also expected to meet in June at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization leadership summit and the G20 summit.

"Such frequent meetings guarantee the development of a friendly Russia-China relationship and a strategic partnership of coordination," Novosti quoted Medvedev as saying.

"I believe such relationships will pass on generation after generation," said Medvedev.

Hu also met Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Saturday.

Both China and Russia made historic contributions to victory in the anti-fascist war, Hu told Putin.

China would like to work together with Russia to hold a series of events to mark the 65th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, said Hu.

The bilateral relations have good momentum and the two nations are coordinated on many important regional and international affairs, Hu noted.

The "Year of the Russian Language" activities were held in China last year, followed by the "Year of the Chinese Language" in Russia this year.

These events will push bilateral exchanges in the cultural sector and consolidate the traditional friendship, according to Hu.

As strategic cooperative partners, China and Russia share many common interests and they should increase mutual help to better safeguard their interests, said Hu.

The two countries should continue their cooperation in the energy field and push their practical cooperation to a new level, he noted.

Hu said China also stands ready to increase its cooperation with Russia to fight terrorism, separatism and extremism, as well as to maintain regional peace and stability.

Putin said Hu's presence at the ceremonies demonstrates the high level of strategic partnership between the two nations, which fought side by side during World War II and contributed greatly to the defeat of Nazi Germany and Japanese militarism.