Putin: Closeness of Leaders Underpins Russia-China Relations
St Petersburg (ANTARA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday (4/6) that the close relationship between the heads of state of Russia and China has laid a firm foundation for both nations to continue opening new prospects in bilateral relations. Putin made these remarks in response to a question posed by Xinhua News Agency President Fu Hua during the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which opened on Wednesday (3/6). On Thursday, Putin met with leaders from 13 major international news agencies attending the forum, including Xinhua.
Putin noted that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping have built a very high level of mutual trust, referring to each other as “old friends.” “This is neither an exaggeration nor mere diplomatic pleasantry,” Putin said. He remarked that Russia-China relations are strengthening over time, with both nations gradually developing a clear set of principles governing bilateral relations through long-term exchange.
Putin added that 25 years ago, the two countries signed the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation, a vital document that created favourable conditions and laid a solid foundation for bilateral cooperation across various fields. In recent years, economic growth and development diversification in both nations have created new opportunities for bilateral cooperation in numerous sectors, according to Putin.
Highlighting that bilateral trade volume has approached US$250 billion, Putin revealed that both parties have recently focused on several new areas of development, including artificial intelligence (AI), information technology, biology, genetics, and various other sectors. Putin emphasised that this friendly bilateral cooperation is not intended to harm any third party and is based on the principle of mutual benefit.
Putin also noted that China is growing strongly and playing an increasingly important role in the global economy, world politics, and international affairs. He added that Russia continues to monitor these trends closely and is actively engaging in cooperation with China. Speaking regarding his recent state visit to China, Putin expressed full confidence that all objectives set during the visit would be achieved. Putin stated that both heads of state have finalised their bilateral exchange agenda for this year, and governments and companies from both nations will continue to deepen their cooperation.