President Putin: China, Russia, the West European countries and the United States can form an arc of stability

The President of Russia believes that China, Russia, the West European countries and the United States can form an arc of stability. Vladimir Putin spoke about it in an interview he gave to the Beijing Renmin Ribao on the eve of the summit of the Shanghai Organisation for Cooperation.

The President reminded the newspaper that several years ago Russia established "special relations with the NATO bloc, and quite recently the Declaration which "deepens Russia's relations with the North Atlantic Alliance" was signed in Rome. Apart from that, the Russian President said that Russia, jointly with a united Europe, was ready to take an active part in building a European security system and also to participate, as much as it is possible, in the European security policy.

At the same time the President underscored that Russia attached great importance to cooperation with the People's Republic of China. "Therefore we are so actively working with China over strengthening the Shanghai Organisation for Cooperation," said Vladimir Putin.

He pointed out that "the great weight, importance and role of China not only in Asia but also in the whole world can play an appreciable role in creating a system under which both in the West and the East the countries will function within the framework of regional organisations united by a common idea - the creation of a multi-polar world and responsibility for the fate of mankind." "Thus we could speak about a certain arc of stability from China through Russia to the Atlantic," said Vladimir Putin.

He also underscored that Russia, "due to its geopolitical position," was following a balanced foreign policy and intended to develop relations both with the East and with the West. According to Vladimir Putin, the aim of the Russia's foreign policy is "to develop normal and predictable relations which would meet the interests of Russia and the entire international community."