Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping summarise results of cooperation between Russia and China for 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks via video link on 21 January. This is reported by the official website of the Russian President.

The leaders summarised the results of work over the past year and outlined new plans for the development of Russian-Chinese comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation. According to Putin, negotiations at the beginning of the year between the leaders of the two countries have already become a good tradition.

The Russian head of state said that Russia and China are in favour of building a fair multipolar world order and are working to ensure indivisible security in the world. He also thanked Xi Jinping for supporting Russia's BRICS chairmanship.

In addition, Putin emphasised the growth of trade turnover between Russia and China. He said that in the first 11 months of 2024, the trade volume between the countries increased by more than 7 per cent and reached over US$220 billion. At the same time, according to the Chinese data cited by the Russian president, the trade turnover for the whole year totalled almost US$245 billion. The president added that Russia holds the first place in terms of oil and natural gas exports to China.

"The People's Republic of China is our main trading partner, and Russia confidently takes already the fifth place in the list of countries – China's trade counterparties"

Vladimir Putin President of Russia

The Russian leader also congratulated Xi Jinping on the coming Chinese New Year and wished him good luck. 

In turn, the Chinese President said that Beijing is ready to take relations with Moscow to a new, higher level in 2025. According to him, following the meetings of the two leaders held last year, the Russian and Chinese sides reached a number of important agreements.

"Sino-Russian relations, the core of which is good neighbourliness and friendship, comprehensive strategic cooperation, mutually beneficial cooperation, and win-win, are gaining new vitality"

Xi Jinping President of China

The two leaders last communicated last October at the BRICS summit in Kazan. At that time, Putin noted the strengthening of ties in energy, industry, agriculture, and other areas. Xi Jinping said that over the past decades, Sino-Russian relations have acquired an unprecedented character. 

Photo: kremlin.ru