On the eve of his state visit to Russia, Tanzania, South Africa and the Republic of the Congo and the Fifth BRICS Leaders Meeting, President Xi Jinping gave a joint interview to ITAR-TASS and RTR of Russia, ETV of South Africa, Press Trust of India, Valor Economico of Brazil and Xinhua News Agency of China in the Great Hall of the People on March 19. During the interview, Xi talked about China's policies and positions on China's bilateral relations with relevant countries, China-Africa relations, BRICS cooperation and China's reform and opening-up.
Xi first extended, through the journalists, his sincere greetings to the people of those respective countries. He hoped that this visit will contribute to the friendship between the Chinese people and people of these countries as well as the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and these countries and push the BRICS cooperation mechanism to a new level.
Talking about China-Russia relations, Xi pointed out that China and Russia are each other's major and most important strategic partners of coordination. The Chinese people cherish their profound traditional friendship with the Russian people. Both countries accord priority to their bilateral relationship in their overall diplomatic agenda and foreign policy. The upcoming visit to Russia is a testimony to the great importance China places on its relations with Russia and to the high level and special nature of the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between the two countries.
China and Russia should consolidate mutual strategic and political trust and reinforce mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests, expand practical cooperation and deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, step up coordination and collaboration in international and regional affairs, and maintain peace, security and stability of the world. Xi looked forward to an in-depth exchange of views on further growing China-Russia relations with President Vladimir Putin during his visit.
As to China-South Africa relations, Xi stated that over the past 15 years since establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, relations between the two countries have achieved a historic leap from partnership to comprehensive strategic partnership. As China and South Africa are both emerging markets and developing countries, the two countries see each other as opportunities for development and pivotal partners in pursuing diplomatic strategies. China-South Africa cooperation has acquired growing strategic and global significance.
As regards China-Africa relations, Xi stressed that both being members of the developing world, China and Africa share extensive common interests. China-Africa cooperation is all-around and mutually beneficial. China sincerely appreciates and will always remember the firm support and valuable assistance of their African friends on issues involving China's core interests and major concerns. No matter how the international landscape may change, China will continue to support and promote Africa's efforts to achieve peace, stability, prosperity and development, seek strength through unity, and participate in international affairs on the basis of equality.
In terms of China-India relations, Xi pointed out that China and India are the two largest developing countries in the world. To jointly follow a path of peaceful development and development through cooperation meets the common interests of the two countries. It will also do a great service to Asia and the world at large. At present, both China and India are pursuing development at a faster pace. The two countries should seize these opportunities and take solid steps to bolster cooperation and exchanges in all fields, accommodate each other's core concerns and properly handle problems and differences existing between the two countries and take China-India relations to a new height.
China-Brazil relationship, Xi pointed out, is now at its best in history and has assumed greater strategic and overarching significance. As the two countries' development interests are more closely interconnected than ever before, Xi is confident that with efforts of the two sides, bilateral business cooperation will make new breakthroughs, thus enabling our two countries to better achieve sustained development and fend off international economic risks.
When it came to BRICS cooperation, Xi pointed out that a great number of emerging markets and developing countries, including the BRICS countries, have enjoyed fast economic growth. They have become an important force for world peace and common development, which is in keeping with the trend of the time towards peace, development and cooperation.
The global economic governance system must reflect the profound changes in the global economic landscape, and the representation and voice of emerging markets and developing countries should be increased. BRICS cooperation will help make the global economy more balanced, improve global economic governance and promote democracy in international relations. China hopes that through the Durban meeting, the BRICS countries will send to the international community a positive message of unity, cooperation and win-win results.
As for China's reform and development, Xi stressed that the mission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) as China's governing party is to lead the Chinese people in achieving greater national development and make lives better for the people. The CPC must strengthen its party-building and continue to enhance its capacity in scientific, democratic and law-based governance and better serve the people. Reform and opening-up is an inevitable course toward building socialism with Chinese characteristics. Under the new historical conditions, the Party must make new breakthroughs in reform in order to open up new prospects for development. The Party will enhance top-level design and overall planning, and advance structural reforms in economic, political, cultural, social and ecological fields in a balanced way and will resolutely remove all systemic and institutional barriers that impede the country's effort to pursue development in a scientific way.
Socialism with Chinese characteristics must also move forward in keeping with the changing circumstances and conditions. China will draw on the fine achievements of all civilizations, but will not copy the development model of any other country. China's reform is about the self-improvement and development of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The only path that will take China far and bring China success is the one that is chosen by the Chinese people and suited to China's reality.
Regarding China's relations with the world, Xi emphasized that the Chinese people are patriotic, yet are also a people with a global vision and an international perspective. As its strength grows, China will assume more international responsibilities and obligations within the scope of its capabilities and make greater contribution to world peace and development. China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development. It is hoped that all countries in the world will pursue peaceful development, that countries and civilizations will carry out exchanges on an equal footing, learn from each other and achieve common progress and that all countries can make united efforts to build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.
When asked about the working state of Chinese leaders, Xi noted that to govern such a big country with so many people and so complex national conditions, the leaders of China need to be fully aware of China's reality and aspirations of the people, constantly strengthen their working capabilities, and treat their responsibilities with utmost care as if we are walking on thin ice or standing on the edge of an abyss. They should keep in mind that the interests of the people are of overriding priority and their responsibilities are extremely heavy. They must never slacken their efforts or be negligent in the slightest way, and must fully devote themselves to their work. People are the source of their strength. As long as the leaders stand with the people through thick and thin and work with them with one heart and one mind, there is nothing they can't conquer or accomplish.
Also present at the interview were Wang Huning, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.