President Xi Jinping Holds Talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin

On the afternoon of February 4, President Xi Jinping held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. In a warm and friendly atmosphere, the two Presidents had an in-depth and thorough exchange of views on China-Russia relations and a series of major issues that concern international strategic security and stability.

President Xi recalled his attendance at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014 at President Putin's invitation, when the two leaders agreed to get together in Beijing eight years later. He described President Putin's visit this time as a fulfilled commitment to a "get-together for the Winter Olympics." He shared his belief that today's "Spring Festival meeting" will add fresh vitality to China-Russia relations.

President Xi noted the ongoing spread of COVID-19 globally, a world entering a new phase of fluidity and transformation, and the multiple challenges and crises facing humanity. Against this backdrop, China and Russia have stayed true to their abiding commitment and kept their bilateral ties on a track of steady progress. The two sides have firmly supported each other in defending their core interests, strengthened political and strategic trust, and achieved a new high in two-way trade. The two sides have taken an active part in the reform and development of the global governance system, followed true multilateralism, safeguarded the true spirit of democracy, and served as a bulwark in mobilizing global solidarity at these trying times and upholding international fairness and justice. President Xi expressed his readiness to work with President Putin to draw up a blueprint and chart the course for China-Russia relations under the new historical circumstances and turn the high-level trust between the two countries into cooperation outcomes across the board, in a bid to deliver real benefits to the two peoples.

President Xi underscored that in response to an international landscape full of profound and complex evolution, China and Russia have stayed committed to deepening strategic coordination of mutual support and standing shoulder to shoulder for international fairness and justice. This is a strategic choice that will have a far-reaching impact on China, Russia and the rest of the world. The two countries have never and will never waver in this choice. The two sides need to keep up their close high-level exchanges, follow their four-point agreement on firm mutual support, strongly support each other in upholding sovereignty, security and development interests, effectively counter external interference and threats to regional security, and maintain international strategic stability. The two sides need to engage in even closer coordination and collaboration in international affairs, and demonstrate responsibility and take action, as two major countries, to address issues of immediate concern to the international community, including combating the pandemic, bolstering growth, and tackling climate change.

President Xi highlighted China's readiness to work with Russia to fully leverage the political advantage of their bilateral ties to make their all-round practical cooperation still more fruitful. The two sides need to implement the Road Map of High-Quality Development of Goods and Services Trade, deepen cooperation in areas including agriculture, green trade, medicine and health, and digital economy, and enhance transport infrastructure connectivity to keep logistics on the Eurasian continent smooth and the global industrial and supply chains stable. The two sides need to strengthen their strategic partnership on energy, make steady progress on major oil and gas cooperation projects, step up joint innovation efforts for major technological breakthroughs in the energy sector, expand new energy cooperation, support each other's efforts in maintaining energy security, and work to improve the global energy governance system. The two sides need to advance cooperation on scientific and technological innovation, including cooperation in such frontier areas as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and the International Lunar Research Station. The two sides need to deepen communication on fiscal and financial policies and build up joint resilience against financial risks. The two sides need to further synergize Belt and Road cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union. Talking about the China-Russia Years of Sports Exchanges that he and President Putin would jointly launch, President Xi expressed his expectation for a variety of events to be held to increase the mutual understanding and traditional friendship between the two peoples.

Noting the extraordinary journey made by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization over the past two decades and its role as an important constructive force in the international community, President Xi stressed the need for the two sides to view the development of the Organization with a strategic and long-term perspective, and keep it in the right direction, so as to better protect the security and common interests of member states. He also expressed China's readiness to increase communication and coordination with Russia to enable the BRICS cooperation mechanism to play a bigger role in upholding multilateralism, strengthening cooperation against COVID-19 and boosting economic recovery, so that the five BRICS countries, while pursuing their own national development, could make a greater contribution to global development.

President Putin expressed his delight at attending upon invitation the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. The exchange of visits to Olympic Games held in each other's countries has become a reflection of the close relations between Russian and Chinese Presidents and a fine tradition. "I believe that with meticulous preparations, the Chinese people will offer the world the best Winter Olympic experience," said Putin. "I look forward to the brilliant performance of Russian and Chinese athletes at the Games." President Putin pointed out that the COVID pandemic did not stop him from staying in close contact with President Xi through multiple means. The two countries have made steady progress in two-way trade and maintained close coordination in international affairs. Russia sincerely congratulates China on the great development achievements made by the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. Russia sees in China the most important strategic partner and a like-minded friend, and hails the Russia-China relationship as an example for international relations in the 21st century. The joint statement to be issued today reflects the two countries' highly aligned positions on major international issues. The strategic nature of Russia-China relations is more evident than ever, attracting attention from around the world. Deepening comprehensive strategic coordination between Russia and China will help promote the national development and uphold the common interests of the two countries. It also has great significance for maintaining world strategic security and stability. Russia stands ready to work with China to scale up strategic communication and coordination, firmly support each other in defending sovereignty and territorial integrity, firmly uphold the UN's central role of coordination, firmly safeguard international law and international fairness and justice, and promote a fairer and more equitable international order. Russia will also work with China to continue deepening cooperation in areas including economy and trade, energy, science and technology, finance and transportation, and ensure the success of the Russia-China Years of Sports Exchanges.

After the talks, President Xi hosted a dinner for President Putin. At the dinner, the two Presidents had an in-depth exchange of views on the current international and regional situations and major hotspot issues of mutual interest.

President Xi and President Putin agreed to jointly attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, and wished their athletes good performance at the Games.

After the dinner, the two sides released a joint statement between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation on international relations in the new era and global sustainable development, which spells out the common position of China and Russia on how they view democracy, development, security and order. The competent departments of the two countries also signed a series of documents on cooperation in key areas.

Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi and He Lifeng were present at the talks.