Putin hails 'unprecedented level' of ties with China

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday night for a two-day state visit to China, marking his 25th trip to the country since assuming the presidential office in 2000.

Prior to his departure, Putin delivered a video address in which he said, "I'm delighted to be visiting Beijing once again at the invitation of my longtime good friend, the President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping."

On Sunday, both Xi and Putin sent congratulatory letters to the 10th China-Russia Expo, which opened on the same day in Harbin, the capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province.

Russia's TASS news agency quoted Putin as saying in his video address that regular mutual visits and Russia-China top-level talks "are an important and integral part of our joint efforts to promote the entire range of relations between our two countries and unlock their truly limitless potential".

Bilateral relations today "have reached a truly unprecedented level", Putin said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin waves after arriving in Beijing late on Tuesday evening. GAO JIE / XINHUA

The special nature of the ties "is reflected in the atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust, in the commitment to pursuing win-win and equitable cooperation, in conducting respectful dialogue, and in supporting each other on matters affecting the core interests of both countries, including protection of sovereignty and state unity", he added.

Putin's visit comes as this year marks the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.

He said the treaty "laid a solid foundation for a genuinely strategic relationship and comprehensive partnership for the benefit of our countries and our peoples".

Addressing a regular news briefing on Tuesday in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said that China and Russia are comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era, and China welcomes Putin's visit.

During the state visit, the two presidents "will exchange views on bilateral relations, cooperation in various fields, and international and regional issues of mutual interest", Guo said.

A survey report on Sino-Russian youth friendship and cultural exchanges, which was released last week by Renmin University of China, showed that 87.5 percent of young people in Russia and 85.5 percent of young people in China view the two countries' relations as "friendly".

Guo said the survey is a "true baro­meter of public opinion" and its findings illustrate the high level of China-Russia ties.

"Under the strategic guidance of President Xi and President Putin, the China-Russia everlasting friendship will enjoy even greater popular support, and the youth in both countries will join hands and inject fresh vitality into our comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era," he added.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the value of bilateral trade reached $227.9 billion in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of the figure exceeding the $200-billion mark.

Tian Dewen, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies, said that Putin's visit will help to further consolidate the foundation of bilateral relations, featuring long-term stability, a high degree of mutual trust and deeper cooperation.

The visit will also promote the continuous improvement and upgrading of practical bilateral cooperation in areas such as energy and trade, scientific and technological innovation, and global governance, Tian said.

(China Daily)