Cai: Thank you. You mentioned the growth of economic and trade cooperation, and a lot of the mega cooperation projects, which are very encouraging. You have said many times that we should align the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) with the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China. China’s economic sector is following this closely. So specifically what do you suggest the two countries do in this respect? How can we leverage on the alignment of these development plans to promote the economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia?

　　普京：您提到了一个很有意思的重大话题。我们知道，主席提出了“丝绸之路经济带”的倡议。我们认为，他的倡议非常及时，令人感兴趣，并拥有广阔前景，其目的是扩大同世界各国的合作。当然，首先是同邻国的合作，因为无论这条路通向何处，首先都要途经邻国。

　　Putin: What you’ve raised is an interesting topic. We know that President Xi Jinping put forward the Silk Road Economic Belt. We think that Xi’s proposal is very well-timed and appealing, and the Initiative holds great potential as it aims to expand China’s cooperation with the world. China’s neighbors naturally come first in such cooperation, as the road, wherever it leads to eventually, first goes through the neighboring countries.

　　我们正在进行两方面的谈判：一方面是俄中双边谈判，另一方面是涉及中国和欧亚经济联盟的谈判。就在不久前，我们欧亚经济联盟五国在阿斯塔纳讨论过相关内容。大家都赞成在主席提出的“丝绸之路经济带”框架内发展我们同中国的合作。

　　We are undertaking two negotiations: one is bilateral between Russia and China, and the other is between China and the EEU. Just recently, the five member countries of the EEU discussed relevant issues in Astana (the capital of Kazakhstan). We all agreed to develop our cooperation with China within the framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt Initiative.

　　我对您绝对坦诚：我们当然要考虑本国商品生产者的利益。但一致的看法是，世界经济发展和我们与中国合作的根本道路应该是为开放的共同事业逐步消除各种障碍。这样，可以在第一阶段建立自贸区。

　　I have to be absolutely frank with you. Of course, we do have to take care of the interests of our producers. But we share the consensus that our fundamental approach to world economic development and our cooperation with China is to gradually eliminate the various barriers to our common cause of opening up. So I think what we can do at the first stage is to establish a free trade area.

　　我们是现实主义者。我们明白，第一阶段不可能没有任何例外和特殊情况，但是我们应该指明前进方向。为了达到这个目的，考虑到本地区越来越多的国家对我们的合作感兴趣，我们会为今天我称之为欧亚合作的概念创造先决条件。为此，我们会努力避免建立封闭的经贸集团。

　　We are realists. We are aware that it is impossible at the first stage to rule out exceptions and special cases, but we should be clear about where we want to go. Given that more and more countries in our region are enthusiastic about our cooperation, in order to achieve our aim, we shall try to create favorable conditions for what we call Eurasian cooperation, and we shall try to avoid establishing a closed economic and trade bloc.

　　蔡名照：谢谢。我们知道上海合作组织峰会很快将在塔什干举行。上合组织已经成立15年了，中俄两国都是上合组织的创始国，这个组织在保障地区安全、促进地区发展方面发挥着重要作用。您对本次上合组织峰会有何期待，对上合机制有何评价?

　　Cai: Thank you. The 16th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is to be held in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent. Established 15 years ago, the SCO, with both China and Russia as founding member states, has played an important role in boosting regional security and development. What’s your anticipation for the upcoming summit? And what do you think of the SCO mechanism?

　　普京：上海合作组织在成立之初，为自己提出了相当低调的目标。我想说，这些目标很重要，却也注重实利，那就是要解决种种或难或易的边境合作问题，但毕竟只是边境合作问题。不过我们也知道，如果缺乏诚意，这些边境问题可能数十年都悬而不决;而如果有诚意，这些问题便迎刃而解。这在很大程度上取决于一个国家的内部情势以及它在国际舞台上的处世哲学。

　　Putin: The SCO, at its early days, set itself pretty low-profile goals. I want to say those goals were both important and pragmatic, which were aimed at addressing various kinds of problems in cooperation along the borders. However, whether they are easy or not, those issues were still no more than cooperation along the borders. But we are aware that those issues would have stayed unsolved for decades without sincerity and could be easily solved with enough sincerity. Whether those issues could be solved or not depends on a country’s internal situation and how it conducts itself on the world stage, to a great extent.

　　俄罗斯、中国以及上海合作组织的其他成员正是基于这种最大的诚意，实现了我们在这一领域为自己设立的所有目标。显然，我们不能放弃这一机制，要珍惜所取得的成果，珍惜我们各成员国之间相互关系的发展水平。事实上，我们已经开始利用现有机制来解决其他问题，首先是开展多领域合作。这里既包括政治上的合作，也包括基础设施建设方面的合作。我们已经开始讨论安全问题、应对毒品威胁等等。

　　It was based on their utmost sincerity that Russia, China and other SCO member states achieved all of the pre-set goals in this area. Obviously, it is advisable for us not to abandon this mechanism and to cherish our achievements as well as the current development level of the inter-relations among all the SCO member states. As a matter of fact, we have begun to solve other problems through the SCO mechanism, starting with cooperation in a number of fields. Such cooperation is not only political but also involves infrastructure construction. We have also begun to discuss issues concerning security and drug trafficking, among others.

　　我不会说，我们已经取得了很多神奇的成果，实施了一系列模范行动。但我要说，这一组织已成为本地区受欢迎的、富有吸引力的组织。世界上很多国家已表示期望加入上海合作组织。

　　I will not say that we have achieved many magical results or that we have carried out a series of exemplary operations. But I will say the SCO has become a popular and attractive organization in the region. Many countries around the world have expressed willingness to join it.

　　在去年举行的上海合作组织乌法峰会上，我们决定启动接收印度和巴基斯坦加入上合组织的程序。在塔什干峰会上，我们将落实这一决定。我们还将讨论其他国家希望参与上合组织工作的问题。

　　At the SCO Ufa Summit last year, we decided to initiate the procedure of admitting India and Pakistan into the bloc. At the Tashkent summit, we will implement the decision and hold discussions on other countries’ willingness to participate in the work of the organization.

　　上海合作组织职能范围的扩大、成员数量的增加，特别是上述重要国家的加入，使得这一组织成为一个不仅在本地区、而且在世界范围内都具有权威性的、受欢迎的国际组织。

　　The expansion of the SCO’s functions and the increase in its member numbers, particularly the inclusion of those important countries mentioned above, have made it an authoritative and popular international organization in the region and the world at large.

　　国际形势复杂多样。一些国家在这样或那样的国际问题上立场和观点不尽相同。他们加入我们的组织虽然无法解决问题本身，但是会为问题的解决创造条件。我们对此充满期待。

　　As the international situation is complex and diverse, some countries might differ from others in terms of stance and opinion over certain international issues. Although their inclusion into the SCO might not offer solution to their disagreements, we will make efforts in paving the way for the settlement of those issues. We are full of expectations for that.

　　蔡名照：谢谢。当今世界面临着许多重大挑战，全球经济复苏乏力，一些地区局势动荡，恐怖活动加剧，气候变化等环境问题也很突出。在这种艰难的国际环境下，中俄两国作为有影响力、负责任的大国，是维护世界和平与稳定的重要力量。您认为中俄两国在维护世界和平、完善全球治理方面还应该做出哪些努力?

　　Cai: Thank you. Today, the world faces many grave challenges, including a sluggish global economic recovery, instability and volatility in some regions, rampant terrorist activities, and environmental problems such as climate change. As two influential and responsible major countries, China and Russia are important forces in maintaining world peace and stability, especially under such challenging international situations. So, what additional efforts do you think China and Russia should make to maintain world peace and improve global governance?

　　普京：如您所知，俄罗斯和中国目前在国际舞台上进行协作这件事本身就是国际事务中的稳定因素。

　　Putin: As you know, coordination between Russia and China on the global stage is itself a stabilizing factor in international affairs.

　　让我们来回顾一下主席在出席联合国成立70周年纪念活动时的讲话吧。请再次重温。这一讲话旨在以国际法为准绳、通过和平手段解决所有争议问题。与此同时，主席还表示愿意帮助贫穷国家，甚至还针对这些建议提出具体措施。他是为数不多的致力于国际减贫的国家领导人之一。在国际事务中把我们团结在一起的正是这些立场，而不仅仅是我们两国地理位置上相近。

　　Let’s recall Chinese President Xi Jinping’s address at the ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations. Please recall his words. He advocated for all controversial issues to be resolved in accordance with international law and through peaceful means only. President Xi also said China stands ready to aid poor countries, and even put forward specific measures accordingly. He is one of the few national leaders who are dedicated to international poverty reduction. It is these positions, instead of just geographic proximity, that unite us in international affairs.

　　除了在上海合作组织内进行合作，我们也在金砖国家框架内开展合作，金砖国家机制实际上也是我们共同创立的。我们还在联合国这个平台上积极合作。

　　Apart from our cooperation within the framework of the SCO, we have been cooperating with each other within the BRICS framework as well. Actually, we jointly created the BRICS mechanism. We also have active cooperation with each other at the United Nations.

　　我想回顾一下，正是我国，当时的苏联，竭尽全力使中华人民共和国在联合国安理会常任理事国中取得了值得尊敬的位置。我们一直认为，这就是中华人民共和国的位置。直到今天，我们一直很高兴发生这件事，因为我们对国际事务所持的观点，用外交语言来说，非常相似或完全一致。这种观点的吻合在技术层面上得以充实。我们保持经常性接触，并就全球和地区问题进行磋商。我们彼此视对方为亲密盟友，因此理所当然始终倾听伙伴的声音，我指的是照顾彼此利益。

　　In retrospect, it was my country, the then Soviet Union, that tried its best to help the People’s Republic of China secure its permanent seat at the UN Security Council, a respectable place where we always think China should be. Until today, we have always been very happy that this happened, as our two countries, in the language of diplomacy, have the same or very similar viewpoints in international affairs. Such alignment of our stances is also substantiated at the technical level. We have maintained contact regularly, and carried out consultations on global and regional affairs. We see each other as close allies, so of course we always listen to each other, by this I mean we keep in mind each other’s interests.

　　我相信，在我访问中华人民共和国期间，我们的合作也将遵循这一精神。

　　I believe that during my visit to the People’s Republic of China, our cooperation will continue to follow this spirit.

　　蔡名照：谢谢总统阁下，我们衷心期待您对中国的访问。祝您这次访华取得圆满成功。我还想告诉您，在您此次访问期间，新华社和塔斯社也将签署一份新的合作协定。

　　Cai: Thank you, Mr. President. We sincerely look forward to your visit to China and wish you enormous success. I would also like to tell you that during your visit, Xinhua News Agency and Tass News Agency will sign a new cooperative agreement.

　　普京：您在这件事上帮助了我们。谢谢您，因为在当今世界，新闻报道的重要性不亚于外交官的实际工作。

　　Putin: You have been a great help on this front. Thank you. In today’s world, the work of news reporting is no less important than that of diplomats.

（编辑：何莹莹）