Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Beijing on Thursday, signing a joint statement to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era between the two countries. This meeting marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Russia, highlighting a significant milestone in their bilateral relations.
In a joint press conference, President Xi emphasized that the China-Russia relationship has grown stronger over the past 75 years, weathering various challenges. He described the relationship as a prime example of a new form of international relations and exemplary good-neighborly ties between two major countries.
Strengthening Ties for the Next Six Years
Putin’s visit to China is his first foreign trip since being sworn in as president earlier this month. In March, President Xi chose Russia as his first foreign destination after his re-election as President of the People’s Republic of China. During that visit to Moscow, Xi spoke of a “new era” in China-Russia relations. In October, when Putin last visited Beijing, Xi spoke of the “deep friendship” between them.
Prior to the two-day visit, Putin stated that his choice of China as his first foreign destination underscores the “unprecedented level of the strategic partnership” between the two countries.
During Thursday’s meeting, as Xi and Putin reflected on the successful development of bilateral ties over the past decades, President Xi expressed his belief that the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations serves as a new starting point. He advocated for further alignment of development strategies and the continual enrichment of bilateral cooperation.
“Head-of-state diplomacy plays an important role in guiding and promoting the development of China-Russia relations,” said Wei Jinshen, a Russian studies expert and associate professor at the School of Politics and International Relations of China’s Lanzhou University, in an interview with China Business Network. Wei noted that the meetings between the two presidents in Beijing will set the tone for China-Russia ties in the next six years, ensuring sustained high-level development of their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era.
The mutual visits and affirmations by both leaders signify a deepening of their strategic partnership, with implications for global politics and economics. As China and Russia continue to align their development strategies, observers anticipate enhanced cooperation in various sectors including trade, technology, and cultural exchanges.
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Expert: Xi-Putin meeting in Beijing sets tone for development of ties
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