In a demonstration of enduring partnership, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged New Year greetings on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone as the two nations celebrate the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2024.
President Xi, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, extended sincere congratulations and best wishes to President Putin and the Russian people. He acknowledged the extraordinary journey of China-Russia relations over the past 75 years, noting how the relationship has matured and stabilized.
“In the face of accelerated global transformations and a volatile international landscape, China and Russia always move forward hand in hand along the right path of non-alliance, non-confrontation, and not targeting any third party,” Xi said.
Over the past year, Xi and Putin held three meetings—in Beijing, Astana, and Kazan—maintaining close communication through phone calls and letters. They engaged in candid exchanges of views and reached broad consensus on bilateral relations and major international and regional issues of common concern.
Under the strategic guidance of the two leaders, political mutual trust and strategic coordination between China and Russia have advanced to higher levels. Practical cooperation in various fields has yielded tangible outcomes, such as the completion of the China-Russia east-route natural gas pipeline. The successful launch of the China-Russia Years of Culture has fostered a closer bond between the two peoples.
Xi highlighted that China and Russia also support each other as chairs of the BRICS mechanism and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), contributing significantly to solidarity and cooperation among the Global South.
Looking ahead, Xi noted that 2025 marks the conclusion of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan period and the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. He emphasized China’s commitment to deepening comprehensive reforms, advancing Chinese modernization, and promoting global peace and development.
Expressing confidence in the future, Xi stated his readiness to maintain close exchanges with Putin. He underscored the importance of keeping China-Russia cooperation on the right course to continue consolidating and deepening their ties, featuring permanent good-neighborly friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination, and mutually beneficial cooperation.
President Putin reciprocated the heartfelt greetings, extending New Year and Spring Festival wishes to President Xi and the Chinese people. He noted the joint celebrations in 2024 of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the establishment of bilateral ties.
Recalling their three successful meetings in 2024, Putin said they have advanced the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era to new heights. He highlighted the mutually beneficial cooperation progressing in areas such as economy, trade, energy, transportation, science, and technology. The successful launch of the Russia-China Years of Culture has created more opportunities to expand people-to-people exchanges.
Looking forward to 2025, Putin expressed his readiness to maintain close communication with Xi to jointly promote the development of bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields. He emphasized strengthening coordination on multilateral platforms like the United Nations, BRICS, the SCO, and G20, contributing to international and regional security and stability.
On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin also exchanged New Year greetings. Premier Li noted that under the strategic guidance of Xi and Putin, both sides have leveraged the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties to promote sustained, healthy, and stable development of bilateral relations.
Mishustin expressed Russia’s willingness to maintain constructive exchanges based on a high degree of mutual trust with China. He believed that the consensus reached by the two sides would help elevate bilateral cooperation.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
