Outgoing Russian diplomat hailed as 'true friend'

Amid the strengthened partnership between Beijing and Moscow, the outgoing Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov has witnessed the fruitful achievements of bilateral ties over the past years. Before leaving the country, he was hailed as the "true friend" of the Chinese people.

In the past week, Denisov, who has been Russia's chief envoy in Beijing since 2013, had a series of meetings with senior Chinese officials who commended his contributions to the high-level development of bilateral ties and expressed hope that he would continue to make contributions toward enhancing the friendship between China and Russia.

In a meeting with Denisov on Friday, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi called him a "good friend, old friend and true friend" of the Chinese people.

Wang spoke highly of the Russian diplomat's outstanding work in promoting China-Russia cooperation and enhancing the friendship and mutual trust between the two nations, saying he has made important contributions to safeguarding both countries' legitimate and lawful rights and interests as well as to international fairness and justice.

Against the backdrop of profound adjustment and evolution of international relations, both countries have been more keenly aware of the important achievements in good neighborliness and friendship, of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes between them, Wang said.

They have better understood the precious experience of non-alliance, non-confrontation and non-targeting of any third party, and have better recognized the great significance of China and Russia strengthening cooperation shoulder to shoulder and supporting each other back to back as two major countries, he added.

Noting that China-Russia relations have withstood the test of the international landscape and have always remained vital and dynamic, Wang said that the countries' ties will continue to enjoy high-level development and provide a strong guarantee for safeguarding each other's core interests, and make new contributions to the two countries achieving their development and revitalization.

Denisov said that during his work in China, he has seen the tremendous achievements China has made in all aspects and that he believes China will produce even greater achievements in the future.

While exchanging the views on issues of common concern, they both said that the United States and some other Western forces frequently interfered in other countries' internal affairs and spread rumors under the guise of human rights and democracy.

However, their tricks have been seen through by a growing number of countries and people, and will surely end in failure, they said.

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, met with Denisov in Beijing on Wednesday, praising him for his significant contributions to China-Russia friendly cooperation.

Denisov also had separate meetings on Aug 24 with Xia Baolong, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairman for the Chinese-side of the China-Russia Friendship Committee for Peace and Development, and on Aug 29 with Le Yucheng, former vice-foreign minister and currently deputy head of the National Radio and Television Administration.