Chinese President Xi Jinping, currently visiting Russia, held a full-day meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, leading to a joint statement. Following the meeting, China emphasized the importance of maintaining the overall direction of cooperation between China and Russia, eliminating external interference, and enhancing cooperation. Russian media outlets reported that a solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict was discussed during the meeting.
Chinese President Xi Jinping began his visit to Russia on Thursday (May 8), holding a full day of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. A high-profile Russian welcome ceremony welcomed Xi. Xi addressed Putin as an old friend and stated that in the face of unilateralist headwinds and hegemonic bullying, China and Russia must work together to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world, emphasizing that Sino-Russian friendship is an inevitable choice.
After several hours of meetings, Chinese and Russian leaders issued a joint statement on further deepening the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era and signed over 20 cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding, covering areas such as global strategic stability, upholding the authority of international law, biosecurity, investment protection, and film cooperation. Xi Jinping, in a press conference, stated that the two countries reached many important new consensuses and emphasized the need to deepen political mutual trust and strategic coordination, comprehensively deepening practical cooperation across all sectors.
Xi Jinping said: "Faced with changes in the world, the times, and history, China and Russia must firmly grasp the direction of bilateral relations and the general trend of human development, be true friends forged over a century, comprehensively enhance the height, dimension, and resilience of China-Russia relations, and inject more stability into world peace and security."
Xinhua News Agency reported that Xi Jinping, during their meeting with Putin, emphasized the need for China and Russia to adhere to the general direction of cooperation and eliminate external interference. He also stated that China has the resolve and confidence to overcome all risks and challenges. However, there was no mention of a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, Reuters, citing Russian media, reported that Putin and Xi Jinping did discuss the conflict and agreed that resolving it hinged on addressing its root causes.
