In an opening that reflected the depth of personal and diplomatic ties, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed his Chinese counterpart as “my dear friend,” citing the Chinese proverb “a day apart feels like three autumns” to express the importance of continuous communication between Moscow and Beijing at all levels.
Putin recalled key milestones of cooperation, including the signing of the “Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation” 25 years ago, which laid the foundations for a comprehensive partnership.
He noted that the level of bilateral relations has now reached unprecedented heights.
Putin described the talks with Xi as having taken place “in a very friendly and constructive atmosphere,” characterizing the “comprehensive partnership between Russia and China as a model for relations between states in the new era.”
A Multipolar World and Diplomacy of Stability
Putin emphasized that Russian-Chinese coordination is a key factor for global stability and the formation of a multipolar world that respects sovereign development and the diversity of civilizations.
He announced enhanced coordination within the United Nations, the BRICS group, the G20, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which he described as a model of equitable integration.
Regarding people-to-people exchanges and communication, the Russian president announced the launch of the “Year of Educational Cooperation,” the tenth such initiative, praising the visa exemption for citizens of both countries, which has contributed to strengthening ties between the two peoples.
He concluded his remarks by affirming Russia’s support for China’s chairmanship of the APEC forum and its participation in the upcoming SCO summit in Shenzhen, extending a formal invitation to Xi Jinping to visit Russia next year.
Economic Leap and Major Agreements
On the economic front, Putin revealed that the volume of trade between the two countries has increased 30-fold, exceeding $200 billion, adding: “Our relations have reached an unprecedented level and are a model to be emulated.”
Putin arrived in Beijing, the Chinese capital, on Tuesday for an official visit coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between Russia and China.
Chinese President Xi Jinping held a welcome ceremony on Wednesday morning outside the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is on a state visit to China. pic.twitter.com/atPBWzwIde
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) May 20, 2026
The welcoming ceremony in Tiananmen Square is scheduled to be followed by talks between the two presidents in the Great Hall of the People, before the signing of joint documents and statements to the media by both presidents.
Source: Agencies (translated and edited by Al-Manar)