Summary New president says strong ties between China and Russia provide a strategic balance in the world.
MOSCOW (AP) - The new Chinese president told students in Moscow on Saturday that strong ties between China and Russia provide a strategic balance in the world, an apparent reference to both countries concerns about growing U.S. influence in Asia.
Xi Jinping, on his first trip outside the country since becoming president last week, sent the same message in meetings with Russia s president and prime minister.
"Strong high-level Chinese-Russian ties not only meet our interests, but serve as an important, reliable guarantee of international strategic balance and peace," Xi said in his speech before a full auditorium at the prestigious Moscow State Institute for International Relations. Chinese students studying at other Moscow universities were among those in the audience.
Under the leadership of Xi, who became Communist Party chief in November, China has stepped up its feud with Japan over a set of disputed islands believed to sit atop petroleum reserves.
Xi told the students on Saturday that China rejects an arms race and is not making any threats of war.
"The development and growth of China brings to other countries not threats but opportunities," he said. "The fulfillment of the Chinese dream will be good for China and for the whole world."
The Chinese president spoke of a need for Beijing and Moscow to stand together to "uphold the principles of the U.N. charter," seemingly referring to their steadfast opposition to U.N. sanctions against Syrian President Bashar Assad s regime.
Xi said that during his talks on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin they had "agreed to strengthen mutual support."
After the Kremlin talks, Russian and Chinese officials signed agreements on deliveries of Russian oil and gas to China, which has been eager to secure greater supplies from the world s biggest energy producer.
Meeting on Saturday with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Xi said he had achieved his goals in visiting Russia and the results had far exceeded his expectations.
