President Xi Jinping Holds Talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin

On the afternoon of 21 March local time, President Xi Jinping held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow. They had sincere, friendly and fruitful talks on the bilateral ties and major regional and international issues of mutual interest, and reached new, important common understandings in many fields. The two sides agreed to follow the principles of good-neighborliness, friendship and win-win cooperation in advancing exchanges and cooperation in various fields and deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era.

In the refreshing weather of March in Moscow, President Xi arrived at the Kremlin in a motorcade. He was welcomed by the Kremlin's horse guards and greeted by the Kremlin Commandant at the alighting point. 

President Putin held a solemn welcome ceremony for President Xi at the St. George's Hall. Accompanied by the majestic welcome music, President Xi and President Putin walked in big strides on a red carpet from the opposite ends of the hall to meet each other in the center. They had a firm handshake and took photos together. The military band played the national anthems of China and Russia. 

The two Presidents held small-group talks first and then large-group talks. 

President Xi pointed out that China and Russia are each other's biggest neighbor and consolidating and developing long-term good-neighborly relations with Russia is consistent with historical logic and a strategic choice of China. It will not be changed by any turn of events. Since his first state visit to Russia ten years ago, China and Russia have enjoyed mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual benefit. Relations between the two countries have grown from strength to strength, showing the features of being more comprehensive, more practical, and more strategic. President Xi said that during this visit, he saw many ordinary Russians in the street waving their hands at the Chinese motorcade in a demonstration of goodwill. He sees clearly that China-Russia relations have strong public support. No matter how the international landscape may change, China will stay committed to advancing China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era. This state visit to Russia is a journey of friendship, cooperation and peace. China is ready to work with Russia to build on past achievements, enrich the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era, bring more benefits to the two peoples and make greater contribution to human progress. 

President Xi noted that changes unseen in a century are evolving faster and the international balance of power is undergoing a profound shift. As permanent members of the UN Security Council and major countries in the world, China and Russia have natural responsibilities to make joint efforts to steer and promote global governance in a direction that meets the expectations of the international community and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. The two sides should support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests, and jointly resist the interference in internal affairs by external forces. The two sides should enhance communication and coordination on international affairs, especially in the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and other multilateral frameworks, practice true multilateralism, oppose hegemonism and power politics, contribute to global post-COVID economic recovery, advance the trend toward a multi-polar world, and promote the reform and improvement of the global governance system.

President Xi and President Putin heard reports by the leading officials of the relevant government departments of the two countries on cooperation in various fields.  

President Xi noted that thanks to joint efforts, China and Russia have enjoyed deepening political mutual trust, convergence of interests, and understanding between the peoples. Their cooperation in such areas as the economy and trade, investment, energy, people-to-people and cultural exchanges and at the subnational levels have made continued progress. There are a growing number of areas and an even stronger consensus for cooperation. China is in the first year of fully implementing the guiding principles set forth by the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. It will foster a new development paradigm at a faster pace, promote high-quality development, and advance Chinese modernization in all respects. China-Russia cooperation enjoys significant potential and space and is strategic, reliable and stable. The two sides need to strengthen overall coordination, boost trade in traditional areas, such as energy, resources, and electromechanical products, continuously enhance the resilience of industrial and supply chains, expand cooperation in such areas as information technology, the digital economy, agriculture and trade in services. They should step up cooperation in areas of innovation and facilitate cross-border logistics and transportation. The two sides should cement the cornerstone of people-to-people exchanges. Efforts should be made to encourage more interactions between sister provinces/states and between sister cities, ensure the success of the Years of Sports Exchange, and facilitate the personnel movement between the two countries. 

President Putin once again extended Russia's warm congratulations on President Xi's reelection as President of China by unanimous vote and the formation of a new government in China. He said that Russia-China relations are developing very well. Good progress has been made in all fields of bilateral cooperation. Exchanges and cooperation are active between the governments, legislative bodies, at different levels and in different areas. Amid a complex environment, such as the spread of COVID, Russia-China trade bucked the trend and realized growth. He expressed hope that the two sides will make full use of their existing channels of exchange and work for new progress in practical cooperation in various fields, including the economy and trade, investment, energy, space and cross-border transportation and logistics, and bring people-to-people and cultural exchanges in sports and tourism and at subnational levels to new heights. Russia firmly supports China in upholding its legitimate interests on questions related to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Russia congratulates China on helping to successfully bring about historic outcomes from the talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran in Beijing. This fully demonstrates China's important status and positive influence as a major country in the world. Russia appreciates China for consistently upholding an objective and impartial position on international affairs, supports the Global Security Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative China has put forward and stands ready to further enhance international coordination with China. 

President Xi and President Putin believe the exchange between the two sides during the visit is in-depth, rich and comprehensive and has injected new impetus into the development of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era. 

They directed the competent departments of the two countries to follow through on the common understandings reached at the presidential level, enhance communication and work more closely with each other to deliver new and greater progress in China-Russia practical cooperation and boost development and rejuvenation in both countries. 

They agreed to stay in close touch through various means to jointly guide the sound and steady growth of China-Russia relations. 

After the talks, President Xi and President Putin jointly signed a Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation on Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination for the New Era and a Joint Statement of the President of the People's Republic of China and the President of the Russian Federation on Pre-2030 Development Plan on Priorities in China-Russia Economic Cooperation.

During the visit, the two sides also signed bilateral cooperation documents in such areas as agriculture, forestry, basic scientific and technological research, market regulation, and the media. 

President Xi and President Putin jointly met the press.

On the evening, President Putin held a warm welcome banquet for President Xi at the Kremlin.

Cai Qi, Wang Yi and Qin Gang and senior officials in the Russian government were present at the abovementioned events.