"No, this does not cause concern, we have an advanced strategic partnership relationship. We have the most advanced stage of political dialogue and economic cooperation, and in this case, of course, China, which is pushing off with very serious challenges to its own security in the region, is taking the steps that it considers appropriate. This is an absolutely sovereign right of this country," Peskov told a briefing, answering a relevant question.
On Prisoner Exchange with US
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that there have been no changes on the issue pertaining to the prisoner exchange in the light of Washington's new proposal on US Marine Paul Whelan.
A State Department spokesperson confirmed to Sputnik on Tuesday that the United States had offered Russia a "serious proposal" to facilitate the release of Paul Whelan. On Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that it has not recently recorded through its channels any additional ideas or proposals from the US side in this regard.
"In this case, we have nothing to add. We do not have any changes in Whelan's case right now," Peskov told a briefing.
Whelan, a former US Marine, was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 and subsequently sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges.