On the morning of May 20, President Xi Jinping held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The two presidents agreed to further extend the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.
The two presidents held small and large group talks.
President Xi noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation Between China and Russia. The signing of the treaty established by law the institutional foundation of long-term good-neighborliness, friendship and comprehensive strategic coordination. Since then, the bilateral relationship has achieved leapfrog development. China-Russia relations have come this far step by step, precisely because we have kept deepening political mutual trust and strategic coordination with unyielding tenacity, expanded all-round cooperation with a drive to always scale new heights, and defended international justice and fairness and advanced the building of a community with a shared future for humanity with unflappable resolve. Under the current international situation, as permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and important major countries in the world, China and Russia should take a strategic and long-term perspective, drive the development and revitalization of our respective countries through comprehensive strategic coordination of even higher quality, and work to make the global governance system more just and equitable.
President Xi noted that China and Russia have developed the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era on the basis of equality, mutual respect, good faith, and win-win cooperation. Political mutual trust has further deepened, cooperation in various areas such as economy and trade, investment, energy, science and technology, people-to-people and subnational exchanges has continued to advance, and the bonds between the two peoples have grown stronger. The China-Russia relationship has entered a new stage of greater achievements and faster development. Steadfastly promoting the long-term, sound, steady and high-quality development of China-Russia relations is a strategic choice the two sides have made in the fundamental interests of the two countries and following the prevailing trend of the world. Various departments of the two countries must fully and effectively deliver on the important common understandings President Putin and I have reached, fully seize the historic opportunities, and work to further solidify the foundation of mutual trust, enrich the substance of cooperation, and create an even brighter prospect for China-Russia friendship.
President Xi stressed that the two sides should focus on the development and revitalization of our respective countries, fully leverage the comprehensive and well-established cooperation mechanisms, strengthen the overall planning for cooperation in all areas, upgrade practical cooperation in economy and trade, investment, energy and resources, transportation, science, technology and innovation and other areas, actively explore cooperation in frontier areas, and cultivate new growth engines with new quality productive forces. The two sides should carry forward our longstanding friendship, strengthen people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in areas such as education, culture, film, tourism and sports, and solidify public support for friendship between the two countries. The two sides should deepen multilateral coordination, further increase coordination and collaboration on multilateral platforms such as the U.N., the SCO, BRICS and APEC, unswervingly uphold the postwar international order and the authority of international law, unite the Global South, and steer the reform of the global governance system in the right direction.
President Putin said that with joint efforts, Russia-China relations have reached an unprecedented level. High-level exchanges are close and political mutual trust is strong. Bilateral trade has been increasing steadily, energy supply and demand mutually beneficial, and cooperation in such areas as transportation, logistics and science and technology further deepened. People-to-people exchanges have maintained a sound momentum, with the Russia-China Years of Education to be launched following the successful Russia-China Years of Culture. Russia-China relations have stood the test of time and grown even stronger, becoming a model for comprehensive strategic coordination. The Treaty on Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation has laid a solid legal foundation for bilateral ties, and holds greater relevance under the current circumstances. Russia is ready to work with China to uphold the spirit of the Treaty, step up strategic coordination and practical cooperation, and bring bilateral relations to an even higher level. Russia-China cooperation is an important stabilizing factor in the turbulent international environment. Russia is ready to continue to strengthen multilateral coordination with China, support China in hosting the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, jointly enhance the standing and influence of the SCO, strengthen BRICS unity and coordination, uphold the authority of the U.N., advocate diversity of civilizations, and make the international order more just and equitable.
The two heads of state exchanged views on the Middle East situation and other major international and regional issues.
The two heads of state heard progress reports from the co-chairs of the deputy prime ministerial level subcommittees under the framework of the China-Russia prime ministers’ regular meeting mechanism regarding cooperation in areas such as investment, energy, economy and trade, Northeast China and the Russian Far East, and people-to-people exchanges. The two foreign ministers reported on China-Russia coordination and cooperation on international and regional affairs.
Following the talks, the two heads of state signed and issued the Joint Statement Between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation on Further Strengthening Comprehensive Strategic Coordination and Deepening Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, and witnessed the signing of 20 cooperation documents in such areas as economy and trade, education, and science and technology.
During the visit, the two sides issued the Joint Statement Between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation on Advocating a Multipolar World and New Type of International Relations, and reached 20 cooperation documents in other areas.
The two heads of state also jointly met the press.
Prior to the talks, President Xi held a welcome ceremony for President Putin on the square outside the eastern entrance of the Great Hall of the People.
As President Putin arrived, honor guards lined up in salutation. After the two presidents stepped onto the reviewing stand, the military band played the national anthems of China and Russia. A 21-gun salute was performed on the Tian’anmen Square. President Putin reviewed the guard of honor of the People’s Liberation Army and watched the march-past in President Xi’s company.
On the same evening, President Xi held a welcoming banquet for President Putin in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People. Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Wang Yi, He Lifeng, Zhang Guoqing, Shen Yiqin, and others attended the events
