Ambassador Zhang Hanhui said in an interview with Russian state news agency Sputnik on Saturday that the two countries are preparing for “several meetings” with Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin this year.
“President Putin’s visit to China [this year] “It will definitely be successful,” he said. “China is looking forward to his arrival.”
This is President Putin’s 19th visit to China since he took office in 2000.
Russian election authorities reject attempts by anti-war politicians to counter President Putin
Russian election authorities reject attempts by anti-war politicians to counter President Putin
Beijing and Moscow have grown closer in recent years amid tensions with the West.
Mr. Xi and Mr. Putin declared an “unrestricted” partnership between the two countries in Beijing in February 2022, three weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but it was quickly followed by a slew of sanctions from the United States and its allies. Ta.
Last March, Mr. Xi flew to Moscow for a state visit. In October, Putin, who had been shunned by Western countries since the war, responded to Xi’s wishes by attending the Belt and Road Summit in Beijing.
The summit was his second overseas trip since the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest in March on charges of illegally deporting a Ukrainian child.
The Kremlin said the two presidents occasionally speak by phone, most recently on Thursday to celebrate Lunar New Year, to maintain close communication and work toward building a “multipolar and more just world order.” He promised to participate. .
While strengthening economic ties, the two countries are also increasing cooperation in fields such as the military, artificial intelligence, and space.
Last year, total trade between China and Russia hit a new record high of $240 billion, an increase of 26% year-on-year, making Russia the sixth-largest trading partner for mainland China after the United States, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong. . Taiwan.
China has been Russia’s largest trading partner since 2010.