Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin via videoconference at the House of People's Congress in Beijing on Tuesday afternoon.
The two heads of state exchanged New Year greetings. Xi Jinping recalled that the Spring Festival (Chunjie, the traditional Chinese New Year according to the lunar calendar) would be celebrated in a few days, said he was happy to meet with the Russian president at this moment, which marks the farewell of the old year and the welcoming of the new one, and wished China-Russia relations great achievements in the new year. Putin said he was very glad to have the opportunity to communicate with President Xi Jinping at the beginning of the year and expressed his congratulations on the coming Spring Festival, wishing the Chinese leader and the Chinese people prosperity in all endeavors.
As the Chinese leader recalled, the two heads of state met three times in 2024 and reached a number of important agreements. The two sides solemnly celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. China-Russia ties, the core of which is eternal good-neighborliness and friendship, comprehensive strategic interaction, mutually beneficial cooperation and win-win, are gaining new vitality. The China-Russia Cultural Year has been full of bright moments, bilateral practical cooperation has been steadily expanding, and bilateral trade turnover has maintained its growth momentum. The two sides closely cooperated within the UN, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), BRICS and other multilateral platforms, which brought more positive energy to the reform and construction of the global governance system.
Xi Jinping emphasized that in the new year, he expects to continue to take Sino-Russian relations to a new height together with President Vladimir Putin, confront the uncertainty of the external environment through the stability and firmness of Sino-Russian ties, promote the development and rise of the two countries, and uphold international honesty and justice. The two sides should further deepen strategic interaction, strengthen mutual support, and safeguard the legitimate interests of the two countries. It is important to consolidate and expand bilateral relations and push forward the deepening of practical cooperation. This year, Xi Jinping recalled, marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance of the Chinese People against Japanese Invaders, the Great Patriotic War and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations. China and Russia should take advantage of these commemorations to jointly safeguard the system of international relations of which the UN is the core and the results of the victory in World War II, promote all countries' firm adherence to the fundamental purposes and principles of the UN Charter, adhere to the universally recognized basic norms of international relations, and realize genuine multilateralism. Under its chairmanship of the SCO, China looks forward to working with Russia and other member countries to help the SCO enter a new stage of higher quality development and greater responsibility. China and Russia should jointly promote cooperation within the Greater BRICS framework to write a new chapter in the history of cohesion and self-reinforcement of countries in the Global South, the Chinese President said.
For his part, Putin noted that Russia and China are building ties on the basis of mutual trust and support, equality and mutual benefit. Bilateral cooperation meets the interests of the peoples of the two countries and does not depend on the current world situation. The President of the Russian Federation expressed satisfaction with the positive dynamics of interstate trade, economic and energy cooperation, noted that counter-tourist flows are growing, and the parties are coordinating their steps on multilateral platforms. Russia firmly supports the fact that Taiwan is an integral part of the Chinese territory and strongly opposes "Taiwan independence" in any form. 80 years ago, Mr. Putin continued, the peoples of Russia and China fought a bloody struggle against the aggressors and at the cost of incalculable sacrifices defeated the enemy, defending state sovereignty and national dignity. This year, the two countries are preparing to honorably celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory over fascism and to cherish and defend the historical truth of the Second World War. The Russian side is ready, together with China, to intensify interaction in multilateral affairs and play a constructive role in promoting world peace and development, the Russian President added.
The two heads of state also had an in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues of mutual interest and agreed to continue strategic contacts in the coming year.
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