Putin, Xi Agree to Strengthen Strategic Foreign Policy Coordination, Mutual Political Trust

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that foreign policy coordination is required in the current environment, and Russia and China are building cooperation in this way.

Speaking at the meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in China's capital, Beijing, Putin said that "close foreign policy coordination is especially needed" in the current difficult environment, and that is how Russia and China are building their cooperation.

"And we will discuss all of this today. Everything, including our bilateral relations," Putin said.

In his turn, the Chinese leader said that Russia and China are steadily deepening mutual political trust and close strategic cooperation.

"I am pleased to note that the governments, various agencies and regions of our countries are making every effort to implement the agreements reached by me and Mr. President [Putin]," Xi said.

The Chinese president added that "mutual political trust between the two countries is steadily deepening, and strategic cooperation remains close and effective."

President Putin also said that there would be the 75th anniversary of the founding of China and an anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and China. Putin also congratulated "all Chinese friends" on the 74th anniversary of the founding of China.

The Russian leader added that China's idea of developing broad cooperation among the countries of the historic Silk Road initiative, put forward 10 years ago, "has been developing well."

"China, under your leadership, you are succeeding. We are very happy for you, for all those involved in this broad cooperation, because everyone benefits from it," Putin told Xi.

In the same vein, the Russian leader said that Russia invites all interested countries to cooperate in the development of the Northern Sea Route.

"Concerning the Northern Sea Route, Russia is not just inviting its partners to actively use its transit potential. Let me say more: we invite interested countries to directly participate in its development. We are ready to provide reliable ice navigation, communications and supplies," Putin told the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China's Beijing, being held from Tuesday-Wednesday.

He added that navigation for ice-class cargo ships along the entire length of the Northern Sea Route will become year-round as early as next year. The president also invited the participants of the forum to send specialists from their countries to Transport Week in mid-November in Moscow.

Equal Cooperation for Progress

Xi stressed that Beijing was Ready to work with Moscow to defend international justice, as well as contribute to world peace and prosperity.

"China is ready to work together with Russia, with a clear understanding of the common historical trend, following the direction of world development and always relying on the fundamental interests of the peoples of the two countries, to steadily enrich bilateral cooperation with new content, be the embodiment of the responsibility of major countries to promote the development and revitalization of the two countries, defend international justice and impartiality and promote the common development of world peace," Xi told Putin.

Meanwhile, President Putin highlighted that China and Russia share the desire for equal and mutually beneficial cooperation to achieve long-term economic progress and social well-being, while respecting the right of each country to its own model of development.

"We have repeatedly noted that Russia and China, as well as the majority of world countries, share the desire for equal and mutually beneficial cooperation aimed at achieving sustainable and long-term economic progress and social well-being while respecting civilizational diversity and the right of each country to its own model of development," Putin told the third Belt and Road Forum.

The Russian president also wished China further success in implementing its development plans, noting that China is succeeding in what was hard to expect.

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President Xi noted that trade between Russia and China has reached a record high and is approaching the $200 billion target set by the leaders of the two states.

"Bilateral trade has reached a record and is steadily approaching the $200 billion target we have set," Xi said at the meeting with the Russian president.

Commenting on Xi's remarks and the fact that Russia-China trade in the first three quarters of 2023 grew by 29.5% year-on-year to $176.4 billion, Putin assured that mutual trade will "definitely" exceed $200 billion by the end of the year.

"You just mentioned our goal to reach $200 billion in trade this year. If we look year-on-year, we analyzed it last night, from today a year ago: we already have $200 billion. And this mark will definitely be surpassed by the [end of the] calendar year," Putin said.