On May 17, 2019, Assistant Foreign Minister Zhang Jun and Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov of Russia co-chaired a new round of consultation on China-Russia strategic stability in Moscow. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the international strategic security situation, China-Russia cooperation in the field of strategic security, regional hotspots and multilateral arms control. The two sides reached broad consensus and further clarified the direction and focus of cooperation.

Zhang Jun said that at present, instabilities and uncertainties in the field of international strategic security are increasing, and some major powers are pursuing unilateralism and bullying, constantly withdrawing from international treaties and mechanisms, and strengthening the building of their own nuclear missile forces, which has aggravated tensions, increased the risk of an arms race, and seriously undermined global strategic stability.

As permanent members of the Security Council of the United Nations, China and Russia play a vital role in safeguarding international strategic security. The Chinese side is willing to strengthen strategic cooperation with the Russian side, deepen strategic mutual trust, uphold multilateralism, resolutely curb the negative tendencies and harm of unilateralism, safeguard the authority and effectiveness of treaties and mechanisms on international arms control, and maintain global strategic stability.

Zhang Jun said that, with regard to some officials of the United States (US) accusing China of legitimate and reasonable national defense construction and claiming to include China to the US-Russia arms control agreement, the attitude of the Chinese side is very clear. The premise and basis for conducting trilateral arms control negotiations do not exist at all, and the Chinese side will by no means participate in such negotiations. China firmly follows the path of peaceful development and pursues the policy of defensive national defense, and its nuclear power is far lower than that of the US. China has long made it clear that it will not be the first country to use nuclear weapons and will not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states. China will not participate in nuclear arms race of any form, not provide a nuclear umbrella for other countries, and not deploy nuclear weapons in other countries. The accusation against China from the US is groundless, and the US should not use other countries as an excuse to evade its international responsibilities.

Sergei Ryabkov said that the current international security environment is facing severe challenges. Unilateralism has caused serious harm, and the situation of strategic stability has been deteriorating. Russia and China should further deepen strategic coordination and mutual trust, firmly uphold multilateralism, safeguard the international arms control treaty and the non-proliferation system of weapons of mass destruction, and maintain global strategic balance and stability. The Russian side insists that the US should continue to fulfill its international obligations. The Russian side fully understands the Chinese side's position on the China-US-Russia trilateral arms control negotiations.