Russian President Vladimir Putin has begun his first state visit to China since his inauguration. The Russian leader was invited by his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during Putin’s previous visit to Beijing in October 2023.
Moscow and Beijing have accumulated “a solid baggage of practical cooperation,” Russian President Vladimir Putin told a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on Thursday.
The Russian president recalled that bilateral trade in 2023 increased by almost a quarter and reached $227 billion.
Putin also emphasized that China remains Russia’s main trade and economic partner.
“According to the results of last year, Russia has moved up to the fourth place in the list of China’s trade partners. The approval of the plan for the development of key areas of Russia-China economic cooperation until 2030 following your visit to Moscow in March 2023 played a direct role in this,” the Russian leader said.
Putin added that energy, industry and agriculture are among the priorities in the bilateral cooperation. The Russian president also noted the importance of cooperation in high technologies, innovation, infrastructure construction and transportation.
“Humanitarian contacts are expanding. We will hold years of cultures of Russia and China in 2024-2025, in accordance with our agreement,” Putin said.
Welcoming Xi at the beginning of the talks, Putin said he was sincerely happy to be back in hospitable China among his friends six months later.
“I thank you for your congratulatory letter on the occasion of my reelection as president of the Russian Federation and thank you very much for the invitation,” the Russian president told his Chinese counterpart.
The Russia-China relationship is not opportunistic and not directed against anyone, Putin said.
“It is of fundamental importance that the Russia-China relationship is not opportunistic and not directed against anyone. Our cooperation in world affairs today is one of the main stabilizing factors in the international arena,” the Russian president said.
Putin added that Russia and China together uphold the principles of a fair and democratic world order reflecting multipolar realities and based on international law.
“Russia and China are successfully cooperating in the United Nations, BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as the G20. We are determined to further harmonize integration processes in the Eurasian space, to match the potentials of the Eurasian Economic Union and, my dear friend, your One Belt and Road Initiative,” Putin said.
Putin expressed hope that his visit will give additional impetus to the development of the whole range of bilateral cooperation.
“I would like to emphasize that I am very glad to be in China and meeting with you,” the Russian president said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he had discussed prospects for bilateral cooperation with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“Today, in a warm, friendly and constructive atmosphere, we discussed with President Xi Jinping the state and prospects of bilateral cooperation,” Putin said following the Russian-Chinese talks.
The leaders noted with satisfaction the intensity of the dialogue in the field of politics and security, the high progressive dynamics of economic exchanges, the expansion of humanitarian contacts, and effective coordination in the international arena, Putin said.
Putin and Xi also discussed the coordination of countries in the international arena.
“Russia and China are developing cultural and humanitarian cooperation in the most dynamic way. As already mentioned, the years 2024-2025 have been declared cross-cultural years in our countries, their official start will be given tonight. The program of the cross-years is very extensive,” Putin said.
About 90% of all payments between Russia and China are made in rubles and yuan, Vladimir Putin said.
“Today, 90% of all payments are made in rubles and yuan. We have just talked in a narrow format about the areas in which we will further develop our relations, and all this is in the interests of both the Russian and Chinese economies. I am sure that all the planned activities will be carried out,” Putin said at talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Russia and China have formed a significant portfolio of 80 major joint investment projects in various fields, Putin said.
“Over the past five years, despite the consequences of the pandemic and despite some actions aimed at curbing our development, actions by third countries, trade between Russia and China has been increasing, increasing at a good pace. A significant portfolio of 80 large joint investment projects in various fields has been formed,” Putin said.
Russian food exports have increased to the Chinese market, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
“I will especially note the growth of Russian food exports to the Chinese market — more than 1.5 times, to $7.6 billion,” Putin said, following a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Moscow and Beijing put a premium on the partnership between the two countries, it is a model of relations between neighboring countries, Vladimir Putin said.
“The talks that have just taken place have shown that both Moscow and Beijing put a premium on the development and strengthening of the Russian-Chinese comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation. This partnership undoubtedly serves as a model of how relations between neighboring states should be built,” Putin said at a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Both countries have accumulated experience of mutually beneficial and multifaceted cooperation, and also have many achievements in various fields, Putin said.
“Both countries pursue an independent foreign policy. We are working together to form a more just and democratic multipolar world order, which should be based on the central role of the United Nations and its Security Council, international law, cultural and civilizational diversity, and a balanced balance of interests of all participants in the world community,” Putin said.
Putin added that he is in constant contact with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“We are in constant contact. And in addition to regular bilateral summits, we meet on the sidelines of multilateral events, communicate by phone, which allows us to discuss even the most difficult problems. To keep under personal control all pressing issues on the Russian-Chinese and international agenda,” Putin said, following a meeting with Chinese President in Beijing.
Putin recalled that Xi visited Moscow in March 2023 as soon as he was reelected as president of China.
“We have a good, good tradition of making first foreign visits to each other, and this is a clear confirmation of the importance that both we and you, in Moscow and Beijing, attach to the course of consistent development of bilateral relations, comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation,” the Russian leader said.
Putin also recalled that 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the formation of the People’s Republic of China and the establishment of diplomatic relations with China.
The Soviet Union was the first to recognize the new China,” Putin said.
Xi Jinping During Meeting With Putin: Russia-China Relations Have Stood Test and Become a Benchmark
Russia-China relations have stood the test in a volatile international environment and have become a benchmark for relations between major powers, Chinese President Xi Jinping said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Thursday.
“This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. Over the past three-quarters of a century, China-Russia relations have solidified under difficult conditions, withstood the test of a volatile international situation, and now set a benchmark for relations between major powers and neighboring countries, characterized by mutual respect, trust, friendship, and mutual benefit,” Xi Jinping said.
China intends to remain good neighbors and reliable partners with Russia, President Xi Jinping said.
“We intend, as always, to be good neighbors, reliable partners and friends who trust each other with Russia, to consistently strengthen the centuries-old friendship between the two peoples, to jointly strive for multinational development and revival, and with common efforts to defend international equality and justice,” Xi said.
The Chinese leader recalled that he met with Putin at least 40 times over the years.
“Such strong ties allow us to outline strategic directions to maintain the steady and rapid growth dynamics of the China-Russia relationship, which has not been easy at all and therefore deserves the most careful treatment,” the Chinese president said.
He emphasized that the sustainable development of relations between China and Russia not only meets the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples but also benefits the cause of peace and prosperity in the region and the world.
“In a new campaign, we plan, as always, to be good neighbors, trusted friends and reliable partners with Russia, consistently strengthen the centuries-old friendship between the two peoples, together strive for multinational development and revival, and together uphold international equality and justice,” Xi said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Beijing on May 16 for his first foreign visit after reelection.
