China's Cooperation With Russia on Nord Stream Draft Resolution at UN is Vital, Deputy Envoy Says

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - China's cooperation on the draft resolution in the United Nations Security Council calling for an investigation in the Nord Stream sabotage is an important sign that Beijing share's Moscow's concerns on this matter, Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy told Sputnik.

On Monday, the UN Security Council failed to adopt a Russia-drafted resolution asking for a UN-led investigation into the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines. China, Russia and Brazil voted in favor of the resolution and all the other members abstained.

"This draft resolution on Nord stream was presented jointly by Russia and China, which is also an important sign that China is sharing our concerns," Polyanskiy said. "China is sharing our demands for the investigation of this sabotage. I think we will continue like this."

Chinese President Xi Jinping's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month, he added, should have improved Beijing's understanding of Moscow's special military operation in Ukraine.

Polyanskiy also said cooperation between Russian and China is very close and will strengthen.

Moreover, Russia's intention to use Chinese currency for international settlements instead of the US dollar will have a very positive effect on the Russian economy and the Chinese economy, Polyanskiy said.

"We will not be dependent so much on the dollar and this process of de-dollarization is going on," Polyanskiy said. "I think that Yuan is now the most popular currency in Russia, and this is only increasing and we think it's positive because China is a stable and reliable international partner."

Russia will continue to seek opportunities to use other national currencies, not only with China, but also with India, Iran, among others, Polyanskiy said.

The dependence of the world economy on the US dollar is very artificial, and it gives the United States additional leverage to influence economic relations of other countries, which Moscow opposes, he added.

On Grain Deal 60-Day Extension: No Party Notified Russia of Objections

No country participating in the Black Sea grain deal has sent its official objections to the 60-day extension of the pact, Polyanskiy added.

The initiative which allows passage of grain, food, and fertilizers from Black Sea ports amid the Ukraine crisis was renewed in mid-March. While Ukraine and Turkey said the extension was for 120 days, Russia insisted that the deal would be effective for 60 days only.

"If the other two parties do not agree to this, they should have notified us in writing and the deal would have been over but it didn't happen," Polyanskiy said. "It means that if they didn't notify us that they are against the 60-day prolongation, then it is prolonged for 60 days. That's how we count it and we don’t have any other coordinates."

Russia Expects UN Chief to Launch Arbitration With US Over Visas

Russia is counting on the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to begin arbitration proceedings with the United States over its repeated failure to issue visas to Russian diplomats attending the events at the UN headquarters, Polyanskiy stressed.

Last week, the head of Russia’s Mission Legal Executive Office, Sergey Leonidchenko, said that Moscow seeks an immediate launch of arbitration between the United States and the United Nations, as Washington violates its obligations as the country that hosts the United Nations headquarters and delays visas to Russian diplomats.

"So it's up to the Secretary General and we still count that he will be able to launch this procedure. We think that he has all the necessary elements to do so," Polyanskiy told Sputnik. "Because, again, the problems pile up right now, they are not solved in the way they should be solved."

"There is no concrete mechanism that would compel him to do it. It's up to him. He is a wise person. He is at the head of our organization so I think that he will find the best moment. We hope that it will be done sooner rather than later," Polyanskiy said when asked if there was any specific timeline regarding the arbitration process.

The problems with diplomatic visas happen not only vis-a-vis Russia, but vis-a-vis other states as well, he added.