President Xi Jinping Speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin by Phone

　　President Xi Jinping spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone on July 8.
　　Xi pointed out that Russia’s successful 75th annual Victory Parade at the Red Square in late June demonstrated to the world its firm resolve to honor history and safeguard peace. He noted the recent referendum， in which people voted overwhelmingly in favor of constitutional amendments， describing it as a strong testament to Russian people’s support for the government and its governance philosophy. Xi reaffirmed China’s longstanding and firm support for Russia in its pursuit of a development path suited to its own national conditions and its endeavors to accelerate development and rejuvenation.
　　Xi commended the mutual support and assistance the two countries gave each during the most trying time of the COVID-19 challenge， an endeavor which added strategic substance to China-Russia relations in the new era. In the context of the Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation in 2020 and 2021， China and Russia need to enhance cooperation in such areas as high technology， vaccine and drug R&D， and biosecurity. The goal is to move China-Russia relations to a higher level， advance development in both countries， and deliver more benefits to the two peoples.
　　Putin said that both Russia and China value their sovereignty and security and have all along rendered each other firm support. Noting that the Russia-China relationship is as strong as it has ever been， Putin reaffirmed Russia’s firm support for China’s efforts to safeguard national security in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region， its opposition to any provocation aimed at undermining China’s sovereignty， and its confidence in China’s ability to ensure lasting prosperity and stability in Hong Kong.

President Xi Jinping and Ghanaian President Exchange Messages of Congratulation on the 60th Anniversary of Bilateral Diplomatic Ties

　　On July 5， President Xi Jinping and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo exchanged congratulatory messages on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Ghana.
　　President Xi applauded the ever stronger friendship and fruitful cooperation between China and Ghana over the past six decades of diplomatic ties. Xi highlighted the great importance he attaches to China-Ghana relations， and expressed readiness to work with President Akufo-Addo during this 60th anniversary to renew their traditional friendship and deepen all-round cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and the FOCAC framework， so as to benefit the two countries and peoples and build an even stronger China-Africa community with a shared future. 　　President Akufo-Addo noted that in taking stock of relations over the last six decades， exchanges between Ghanaian and Chinese leaders have become frequent and fruitful.
　　He indicated his readiness to work closely with President Xi to consolidate， strengthen， and expand the traditional friendship， strategic partnership， and cooperation between the two countries in the years ahead.

China-Arab States Cooperation Forum Holds Ninth Ministerial Conference

　　The ninth Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum （CASCF） was held via video link on July 6. The conference was co-chaired by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Hussein Abdullah Al-Safadi， and attended by foreign ministers or ministerial-level officials of all member states of the League of Arab States （LAS） and LAS Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
　　Wang noted that at the opening ceremony of the last CASCF Ministerial Conference， President Xi Jinping announced the establishment of a Sino-Arab future-oriented strategic partnership of comprehensive cooperation and common development， and proposed to build a community with a shared future for China and Arab states.
　　Wang called on both sides to make the community with a shared future for China and Arab states a reality， and work untiringly for building a community with a shared future for mankind. To this end， Wang proposed closer cooperation in five areas： strengthening unity and cooperation to defeat COVID-19； jointly defending fairness and justice； upholding multilateralism and improving global governance； advancing Belt and Road cooperation and joining hands in pursuing national rejuvenation； and promoting political dialogue for greater security in the Middle East.
　　Representatives of the 21 participating Arab states and the LAS Secretary General spoke highly of Arab-China relations. The Arab side will work with China to implement the execution plan for 2020-2022， accelerate Belt and Road cooperation based on the principle of consultation and cooperation for shared benefits， and deepen cooperation in such areas as trade， investment， energy， science and technology， tourism， and people-to-people and cultural exchanges to achieve common and sustainable development.