President Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin exchanged New Year’s greetings, reaffirming their commitment to bilateral cooperation. Xi stated that China and Russia are moving “hand in hand” along a path of mutual respect and non-confrontation. He noted that their leadership has fostered growing trust and strategic coordination between the nations.
According to Reuters, which cited the official Chinese news agency Xinhua, Xi Jinping also stated that under their direction, the two countries’ strategic cooperation and mutual trust have continued to strengthen. In order to further strengthen and expand China-Russian relations, which are marked by enduring good-neighbourly friendship, Xi Jinping also stated that he is prepared to continue having close conversations with President Putin.
According to Russia’s state-run RIA news agency, which cited Moscow’s ambassador to Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to travel to Russia in 2025.
Plans for bilateral events are being actively arranged, according to Ambassador Igor Morgulov, with Xi’s visit to Russia next year being a top priority. China’s foreign ministry reaffirmed that the two nations have close connections at all levels during a routine press briefing, but it did not confirm the visit.
Days before beginning a massive military campaign in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a “no limits” cooperation with China during a visit in February 2022.
Following his re-election in May of last year, he made his way back to Beijing, ushering in a “new era” of ties centered on opposing US policy.
After winning an unprecedented third term in 2023, Xi was welcomed as a “dear friend” at the Kremlin. Morgulov also told RIA that China acknowledges the difficulties that both countries face, even though it does not denounce Russia’s intervention in Ukraine.
China is aware of the background of the dispute and is responding to increasing pressure from the United States and its allies in the Asia-Pacific area. According to Xinhua news agency, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in early December that the two countries’ strong mutual trust had allowed their relations to reach an “unprecedented level.”
