Question 4

Two terrorist acts were committed in Volgograd in December. China suffered a terrorist attack in March. Will Russia and China continue their cooperation against terrorism? Are there any plans to undertake some special actions, such as counter-terrorism exercises, within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization?

The atrocious terrorist attacks, which caused the loss of human lives in our countries, cannot be justified on any grounds whatsoever.

We are working together with our Chinese partners towards the overall enhancement of international cooperation against terrorism with the central coordinating role of the United Nations. Of course, we will promote bilateral collaboration in this area.

Today, the Russian-Chinese security dialogue represents a multi-level mechanism. The Counter Terrorism Working Group co-chaired by the heads of the relevant departments of the foreign ministries of the two countries is a key element of this dialogue. Its agenda includes issues of combating terrorism, illicit production of, and trafficking in, narcotic drugs, transnational organized crime and money laundering and ensuring international information security. The group meets at least once a year with the involvement of many specialized ministries and agencies. Its next meeting will be held in the second part of this year in China.

We attach great importance to the joint work in this area at the multilateral fora, for example, within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Cooperation within the framework of the SCO has many dimensions. However, regional security is an absolute priority of the SCO member states. Today, the SCO proves to be the best forum for interaction on the Afghan track. We combine our efforts with our Chinese friends to transform the SCO regional counter-terrorism structure into a new multipurpose mechanism for comprehensive counteraction to the security threats and challenges facing the SCO member states. Such threats are expected to grow, particularly due to the forthcoming withdrawal of most of the international forces from Afghanistan.

The SCO adopted the Programme of Cooperation Against Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism for 2013-2015 that provided, inter alia, for joint counterterrorism exercises by law enforcement and special agencies. A month ago, one such exercise entitled Vostok-Antiterror-2014 took place in Uzbekistan.

Furthermore, exercises conducted by our defense ministries are aimed at improving coordination in response to the threat that terrorism poses to the sovereignty, peace and stability in the SCO member states. This year, the Peace Mission 2014 exercises will be conducted in China.

Question 5

Russia and China are the victors in World War II and permanent members of the UN Security Council. Some countries have raised their voices for a review of WWII outcomes and negation of the post-war world order. What does the Russian government think about this?

Friendship forged in the war and mutual help by the peoples of Russia and China in WWII, where we were allies, laid a firm basis for today's Russian-Chinese relations of strategic partnership.

Immediately after the invasion by militarist Japan of China, the Soviet Union rendered assistance to its neighbor. Pilots of both countries were fighting shoulder to shoulder. After the victory over fascist Germany, our country took an active part in defeating the Kwantung Army and in the liberation of Northeast China. The peoples of our countries suffered heavy losses in the war. Using this opportunity, I would like to express gratitude for the care for the remembrance of Soviet warriors, for memorials, monuments, and grave sites in China.

Russia and China maintain the same approaches to the assessment of the WWII outcome. They can be found, in particular, in the Joint Statement of the President of the Russian Federation and the President of the People's Republic of China on the 65th Anniversary of the End of World War II, issued in Beijing on September 27, 2010. The solidarity of our countries is of significant importance against the background of constant attempts to falsify the history, negate the deeds of soldiers-liberators, and whitewash German fascism and Japanese militarism.

We believe that recognition in full extent of WWII outcomes, which are fixed in the UN Charter and other international documents, is imperative for all the states. First of all, it is the inviolability of all the decisions taken by victorious powers, which is enshrined in Article 107 of the UN Charter. No action or statement must dispute this fundamental principle, which underlies the present-day world order. Only such an approach can enable the reinforcement of global and regional security and stability, and the development of mutually profitable cooperation for the benefit of all countries and peoples.

Taking into account the significance of the 70th anniversary of the Victory, we have reached an agreement with the Chinese to hold a number of joint events, bilateral and in the SCO framework as well, which are aimed to emphasize the contributions made by Russia and China to the Victory and counteract the attempts to distort the historical truth.