Putin's official visit to China concluded: 40 documents signed
Russian and Chinese leaders discussed "the most delicate issues" over tea.
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping held talks in Beijing on May 20. According to the results of the meeting, nearly 40 documents on cooperation between the two countries were signed, reports RBK.
The Russian president arrived in China on the evening of May 19. The visit was organized on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between Russia and China. The Russian delegation included five deputy prime ministers, eight ministers, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, as well as the heads of the Central Bank, VEB, Rosatom, Roscosmos, and Rosneft.
The negotiations took place at the Great Hall of the People on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, first in a narrow format and then in an expanded composition. Putin called the meeting "substantive" and emphasized that the dialogue was conducted in a spirit of trust. At the end of the talks, the parties adopted a joint statement on strengthening strategic partnership, as well as a declaration on a multipolar world and a new type of international relations.
During the negotiations, Putin stated that relations between Russia and China have "reached an unprecedentedly high level," calling them "a model of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation." According to him, since the beginning of the 21st century, the trade volume between the two countries has increased more than 30 times.
The Russian president noted that almost all trade transactions are carried out in rubles and yuan.
Calling cooperation in the energy sector the "locomotive" of economic ties, Putin expressed Russia's readiness to continue the uninterrupted supply of all types of fuel to the Chinese market. It was also stated that the parties are working on expanding cooperation on strategically important elements and metals.
Putin also announced the continuation of the visa-free regime for citizens of Russia and China. According to him, this system has given an additional impetus to the development of humanitarian ties.
Xi Jinping, in turn, emphasized that relations between Russia and China have "entered a new stage of more effective and accelerated development." According to him, the consistent deepening of political mutual trust and strategic cooperation has led to the current level of relations between the two countries.
The Chinese leader stated that "unilateralism and hegemonism are on the rise" in the international arena, noting that the peoples of Russia and China strive to follow the path of peace and development.
Xi Jinping also touched upon the situation in the Middle East, calling the resumption of military conflict in the region unacceptable.
"It is necessary to completely stop hostilities as soon as possible. The resumption of war must not be allowed. It is especially important to adhere to negotiations," he said.
The joint statement adopted by the parties notes that Russia and China express confidence in the need to eliminate the root causes of the conflict in Ukraine based on full adherence to the principles of the UN Charter. The document emphasizes support for all efforts aimed at achieving long-term and sustainable peace, and a commitment to resolving the problem through dialogue and negotiations.
The statement also noted that Russia positively assessed China's "objective position" on Ukraine.
Furthermore, the two countries stated that the US "Golden Dome" project poses a threat to strategic stability. The statement emphasized that this initiative denies the principle of the relationship between strategic offensive and defensive systems, which could increase the risk of conflict in space.
The declaration on a multipolar world signed by Putin and Xi notes that there are no "first-class" countries or peoples. The document emphasizes the need to respect the right of every sovereign state to choose its own development path and model, and that hegemonism and the policy of coercion are unacceptable.
At the end of the talks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun announced that China has extended the visa-free regime for Russian citizens until the end of 2027. Russians holding ordinary passports for foreign travel will be able to enter China without a visa for up to 30 days.
Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov also announced the extension of the visa-free regime by the Russian side, stating that this practice has proven itself "very positively."
After the official meetings, Putin and Xi also held a traditional tea conversation. There, the issue of Ukraine and the conflict between the US and Iran were discussed. According to Peskov, such tea meetings are a permanent part of the communication between the leaders of Russia and China, and it is in this format that "the most delicate issues" are considered.
