Russia’s Putin and China’s Xi meet in Kremlin

Chinese President Xi Jinpingand Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.(from Reuters video)

MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) — Chinese President Xi Jinping, in Russia for an official visit,  met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Monday (July 3).

The two leaders are expected to hold talks on Tuesday (July 4) before Xi heads for Germany where he will take part in G20 summit in Hamburg.

Xi arrived in Moscow on Monday, embarking on his second state visit to Russia since taking office in 2013.

In a written speech released upon arrival, Xi noted that the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination is at its best in history.

The Chinese leader said the two countries, both staunch supporters of each other’s core interests, have engaged in aligning the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative with the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union.

Beijing and Moscow, faced with a complicated international situation, have played their due role in promoting win-win cooperation in international relations, and securing regional and global peace and stability, he said.

Xi said this is his sixth tour in Russia since assuming office, and he looks forward to an in-depth exchange of views with his Russian counterpart on bilateral cooperation and major international and regional issues of common concern.

One needs good partners to walk with, and good neighbors to live with, he noted.

Xi will hold talks with top Russian leaders during his stay, in a bid to deepen political trust and map out future bilateral cooperation, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Huilai said at an earlier press conference.

China and Russia are each other’s most trustworthy strategic partners, Xi told Russian media ahead of his visit, adding that the 4,300-kilometer border between the two countries has become a bond of friendship between the two peoples.

Xi and Putin, boasting a close working relationship and intimate personal friendship, have met with each other 22 times in five consecutive years.

In an apparent gesture to support the Xi-proposed initiative, Putin came to Beijing in May to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

During Xi’s visit, the two sides will also sign a slew of cooperation agreements in such fields as trade, economy, investment, connectivity, media and education, and approve guidelines to better implement the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between China and Russia in 2017-2020.

Last year, the two countries managed to reverse a declining trend in bilateral trade, achieving a 2.2-percent growth to reach 69.5 billion United States dollars. In the first five months of this year, the trade volume increased by 26 percent to 32.4 billion dollars.

China has remained Russia’s largest trading partner for years, and Russia is China’s major export market for cutting-edge machinery.

China and Russia are now jointly developing the Arctic region and working on the development of a wide-body long-haul aircraft.

The flourishing and ever-lasting friendship between Beijing and Moscow also contributes to regional and global peace and prosperity, said Chinese Ambassador to Russia Li Hui.

China-Russia coordination, he added, has played an important role in pushing for a peaceful settlement of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and the Syrian issue.

From Moscow, Xi will fly to Germany, where he will pay a state visit to the European country and attend the upcoming summit of the Group of 20 major economies.