Soccer, Trade Wars and Korean Peace: Top Level Talks Held With Xi and Chinese Government
From geopolitics to soccer. The agenda of the meeting between Valentina Matvienko and Xi Jinping that has taken place today embraced a variety of topics.
Our correspondent Anastasia Sakhovskaya is reporting from the capital of China on important statements and the tone of the talk.
This is the monumental Great Hall of the People, where the Chinese Parliament sits. Here talks with the country's top leadership are held. Valentina Matvienko and Xi Jinping are meeting for the fifth time, which indicates a high density of political contacts at all levels between our countries.
This is how a good friend is met. Xi Jinping calls the relations with Russia indispensable. Despite the strict framework of the meeting, he speaks informally. He jumps to soccer immediately — the Chinese leader is known to be a huge fan.
Xi Jinping: "Russia has arranged the World Cup beautifully. The Russian team showed their high skills. I watch the games every day, and I wish good luck to the Russian team".
The meeting took 2 hours — twice as planned. They spoke as one against trade wars and for the peace in the Korean Peninsula. There's a long way to it, but it will be restored, China is sure after Kim Jong-un's visit. We agree with him on this point.
Valentina Matvienko: "The specific time frame of the sanctions lifting remains to be seen. Concerning my trip — I have such an invitation, and I plan to pay a visit to North Korea. The schedule is being worked out. Maybe, it'll be this autumn".
Vladimir Putin is expecting to meet Xi Jinping at a BRICS summit in South Africa. The Chinese leader accepted the invitation to participate at the Eastern Economic Forum. Matvienko urged her counterpart Li Zhanshu to follow the leaders and intensify the contacts. The senators and deputies were talking about digital economy and cross-border cooperation.
The cultural program was intense as well. "The Dawns Here are Quiet" in the NCPA — a Chinese opera with the Russian soul. Matvienko saw a rehearsal. She is going to see the play in full this September when it is brought to Moscow.
Anastasia Sakhovskaya, Mikhail Artyukhin, Vesti Beijing bureau.