Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Wednesday that Moscow categorically denounces the recent statement by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, which called Russia and China "authoritarian", saying that both countries are large sovereign nations with their own political systems and government structures.
"First of all, we absolutely disagree with the assessment [of Russia and China] as authoritarian. We don't think that the EU has any right to make such a judgment about the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China".
He also noted that Moscow respects other countries' political systems and does not interfere in their internal matters, stressing that Russia has every right to such treatment too.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping
© Sputnik / Alexey Nikolskij
/ The joint statement by the Russian and Chinese presidents, which triggered Borrell, announced broad cooperation between Moscow and Beijing in various areas. Putin and Xi also criticised NATO expansion around the world, urging the bloc to abandon its "Cold War-era" approach and instead contribute to global security.
They also stressed that the world is facing a redistribution of power and expressed criticism of external forces undermining order in neighbouring regions.