MOSCOW, December 30. /TASS/. Relations between Moscow and Beijing have withstood all tests and are a model of cooperation between major powers in the 21st century, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping by video link on Friday.
The Russian leader also said that he looks forward to his Chinese counterpart’s visit to Moscow in the spring, and the latter assured him of Beijing's readiness to increase strategic cooperation with its neighbor and "be global partners."
TASS collected the main theses from the open part of the talks, which were the first for the two leaders since Xi Jinping was re-elected as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee in October.
On Russian-Chinese partnership
"In the context of soaring geopolitical tensions, the importance of the Russian-Chinese strategic partnership as a stabilizing force is growing," Putin said, noting that relations between the two countries demonstrated maturity, stability and continued to expand "dynamically" and they are "the best in history."
Moscow and Beijing share the same views on the causes and course of the transformation of the geopolitical landscape. Putin emphasized that Russia and China are defending their positions of principle while protecting the interests of both of their nations and all those who advocate for a truly democratic world order and the right of countries to freely determine their fate.
The Chinese President also stressed the close strategic contract with the Russian President: "Under our joint leadership, the Chinese-Russian comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction in the new era demonstrates <...> resistance to stress."
Xi Jinping also assured Putin that China "in the face of a simple and far from unambiguous international situation" is ready to "increase strategic cooperation with Russia, provide each other with development opportunities, and be global partners."
About Xi Jinping's visit
The Chinese President is expected to pay a state visit to Moscow next spring.
"I have no doubt that we will find an opportunity to meet in person," Putin said.
He stressed that this visit "will show the strength of Russian-Chinese ties on key issues to the world, and will become the main political event of the year in bilateral relations."
The last time the Presidents of Russia and China met in person in a bilateral format was on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in mid-September. In early February, Putin flew to Beijing, where he held talks with Xi Jinping.
On trade and gas
Trade turnover between Russia and China is growing at a record high pace and will increase. "Despite the unfavorable external environment, illegitimate restrictions and certain Western countries' direct blackmail, Russia and China managed to ensure record high rates of mutual trade turnover growth," the Russian president said. Trade turnover "rose by around 25%," he noted, adding that such dynamics would enable the two countries "to reach the targeted level of $200 bln by 2024."
The President also noted the unprecedented volumes of exports of Russian hydrocarbons to China: as for pipeline gas supplies, Russia ranks second and in terms of liquefied natural gas supplies it is in fourth place. Moscow will increase supplies next year, Putin assured.
The Russian leader also recalled the implementation of landmark infrastructure projects - for example, in the outgoing year, for the first time in the history of bilateral relations, permanent automobile and railway bridges appeared on the Amur border river.
About military cooperation
Military and military-technical cooperation of the two countries contributes not only to ensuring their own security, but also "maintaining stability in key regions," Putin said. He added that Moscow intends to strengthen cooperation with Beijing in this area.
Summing up year’s results
Putin called Xi Jinping a dear friend and noted "a very good tradition" to talk via video link at the end of the year - "to sum up the results of work and outline plans <...>, to exchange views on the most pressing international issues."
Last year, the President of Russia and the President of China had such a conversation on December 15, and on December 30, Putin called up another world leader - US President Joe Biden. The main topic of that conversation was Russia’s demands for security guarantees, the unsatisfactory state of relations between Moscow and Washington, as well as the situation around Ukraine. Biden then expressed concern about the movement of troops near the Ukrainian border and threatened sanctions in the event of an escalation.