Russia and China, as two big powers, are key to maintaining global stability, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Saturday, adding that he would work together with Beijing to fulfill their responsibilities.
"I told Chinese leaders yesterday that Russian-Chinese relations are a major factor in global security, without which the main decisions in international cooperation are impossible," Medvedev said during a speech at the prestigious Peking University (Beida).
It was the first speech to a foreign audience by the new Russian president after he took office on May 7.
"I will say frankly that some don't like to see such strategic cooperation between our countries, but we understand that this cooperation is in the interests of our peoples, and we will try our best to strengthen it whether others like it or not."
Russia and China, permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, have a special responsibility for the future of the world, said Medvedev.
"Our cooperation should be continuous, and not directed at a third party. We need to achieve global balance and ensure that all countries achieve continuous and stable development."
Both countries should also strengthen energy cooperation and make full use of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to achieve the goal, said the president.
He stressed that both nations join hands in technological innovation to make a tangible contribution to global challenges, including affordable energy resources, poverty relief, stabilizing global financial markets and food security.
After his speech, Medvedev interacted with some professors and students, and half-jokingly said: "I hope Russian and Chinese athletes will win all the medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics".
Russia will carefully study the Beijing Games to prepare for the 2014 Winter Olympics to be held in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, he said.
He also talked about his after-work activities, of which not much has been reported.
"After work, I basically exercise. I swim, do yoga, and go to the gym. If possible, I read a book at night, and try my best to spend time with my family members as well as help my son with his studies."
The former lawyer said he would not rule out the possibility of returning to university to teach after retirement from official positions.
At the end of the talk, a Chinese graduate student said that she really loves Russia; and Medvedev responded by kissing her on the cheek.
More than 400 students and faculty members as well as 200 media personnel attended the event, which was broadcast live by CCTV.
Medvedev laid a wreath at the Monument of People's Heroes in Tian'anmen Square on Saturday morning and held talks with top legislator Wu Bangguo, top political advisor Jia Qinglin and Vice-President Xi Jinping.
President Hu Jintao met Medvedev on Friday, and accepted his invitation to visit Russia in 2009.
A Sino-Russian joint communique on the meeting between the two heads of state was made public on Saturday.
The two sides agreed to continue bilateral cooperation in energy, science, information, transportation, finance, environmental protection, education, health, culture, sports and tourism.
Medvedev left for home on Saturday night.
Questions:
1. Where did Russian President Dmitry Medvedev make his first official speech to foreign audiences on Saturday?
2. Which membership to a certain organization do both Russia and China possess that is crucial to global decision making?
3.What job did Medvedev hold before going into politics?
Answers:
1. At Peking University.
2. Permanent membership to the UN Security Council.
3. He was a lawyer.
（英语点津 Helen 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Brendan joined The China Daily in 2007 as a language polisher in the Language Tips Department, where he writes a regular column for Chinese English Language learners, reads audio news for listeners and anchors the weekly video news in addition to assisting with on location stories. Elsewhere he writes Op’Ed pieces with a China focus that feature in the Daily’s Website opinion section.
He received his B.A. and Post Grad Dip from Curtin University in 1997 and his Masters in Community Development and Management from Charles Darwin University in 2003. He has taught in Japan, England, Australia and most recently China. His articles have featured in the Bangkok Post, The Taipei Times, The Asia News Network and in-flight magazines.
