Xi, Putin discuss boosting strategic coordination, closer partnership

President Xi Jinping underscored on Friday the need for Beijing and Moscow to bolster their strategic coordination and continue to treat each other as development opportunities and global partners to inject greater stability into a turbulent world.

Xi made the remarks while meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin via video link. Both leaders extended New Year greetings, talked about fruitful bilateral cooperation and the international situation and exchanged views on the ongoing Ukraine crisis.

On bilateral ties, Xi highlighted the need for both countries to expand pragmatic cooperation, move forward with the development of facilities for greater connectivity, including ports, and increase cooperation in traditional energy and new energy.

He told Putin that Beijing, after having optimized its COVID-19 policies, stands ready to promote the resumption of people-to-people exchanges with countries, including Russia.

As the world again stands at a historic crossroads, Xi stressed that it has tested the wisdom of statesmen from major countries and the rationality of mankind on whether to adopt a Cold War mentality. That is, to stir, divide, create opposition or confrontation, or to practice equality, mutual respect and win-win cooperation based on the common benefits for mankind.

Facts have shown time and again that containment and oppression will never win the support of the people, and sanctions and interference are doomed to failure.

China stands ready to work with Russia and all progressive forces that reject hegemony and power politics, and to stand against any act of unilateralism, protectionism and bullying and resolutely uphold the sovereignty, security and development interests of both nations as well as international fairness and justice, he said.

Xi called for closer bilateral coordination on international affairs to safeguard the authority of the United Nations and international law, uphold true multilateralism, showcase the responsibility of a major country, and lead the way on ensuring global food and energy security.

The two sides should continue to promote greater unity and mutual trust in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to enable greater mutual support over issues concerning respective core interests and jointly guard against outside interference and sabotage, he said.

Xi expressed Beijing's readiness to work with Russia to encourage more countries to join BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), build up the strength of the grouping and safeguard the common interests of emerging markets and developing countries.

On the Ukraine situation, Xi expressed his appreciation that Russia has never rejected a diplomatic settlement to the crisis. The prospect for peace will remain, and persistent efforts to achieve this are in place, he said.

Beijing will continue to uphold a just and fair position and pool strength in the international community as part of efforts to play a constructive role to solve the crisis, he added.

Putin said under Xi's leadership, China will continue making new achievements in its social and economic development and further elevate its international position and influence.

He said the significance of strategic coordination between Russia and China has become more prominent, and relations have become a model for those between major countries in the 21st century.

Russia firmly supports China's position on the Taiwan question and remains committed to the one-China principle, he said.

Putin expressed readiness to maintain close coordination with China in multilateral platforms including the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and the G20, and will jointly endeavor to build a more fair and reasonable international order and safeguard the legitimate interests of both nations.

Trade between China and Russia increased to $172.4 billion in the first 11 months of this year, a year-on-year rise of 47.5 percent, according to the General Administration of Customs.

Ivan Melnikov, first deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma and chairman of the Russian-Chinese Friendship Society, said the leaders of the two countries have maintained close communication and led the strategic direction of bilateral relations.

"The potential for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries is huge and can be further explored," he said, citing the exponential growth in bilateral trade this year.

Boris Titov, Russian Presidential Commissioner for Entrepreneurs' Rights, said Sino-Russian relations have maintained the highest level in history and results have been achieved by bilateral cooperation projects with more Chinese companies entering the Russian market.

XU WEI in Beijing

REN QI in Moscow