At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in China for a state visit from May 16 to May 17, 2024. This is his first visit since President Putin started his new presidency on May 7.
"The fact that President Putin has made China his first visit during his current term of office is based, first and foremost, on the friendly relations between the two great countries, China and Russia," said Prof. Cui Long, First Deputy Director of the Higher School of International Relations and Director of the Center for Russian-Chinese Studies at Peter the Great Saint-Petersburg Polytechnic University, to GDToday.
"He is sending a clear message to the world that Russia attaches great importance to its relations with China," he said.
Prof. Cui noted that after 75 years of development, the China-Russia relationship is now at its best period, especially in the economic sector. The new type of bilateral relationship that is developing between China and Russia also has the potential to benefit both countries and safeguard international peace and security.
China-Russia relations at an unprecedented high
According to Xinhua News Agency, China and Russia issued a joint statement on deepening the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries on May 16.
As President Putin highlighted the sound development of Russia-China relations, "Russia-China relations have reached the highest level ever, and despite the difficult global situation, continue to grow stronger."
Prof. Cui noted that the two countries' strategic cooperative partnership continues to move forward. As President Xi pointed out, China and Russia are committed to win-win cooperation as the driving force behind their relationship, and work to foster a new paradigm of mutual benefit.
In 2023, two-way trade exceeded 240 billion U.S. dollars, close to 2.7 times that of a decade ago. In particular, in Q1 of this year, the trade volume between the two countries reached 56.68 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 5.2% year on year.
"What impressed me most (in China-Russia cooperation) is import and export. China's FDI is important to Russia. Increased Chinese investment in Russia can fill the gap left by Western sanctions. For example, China's automobile market share in Russia is over 60%, " said Prof. Cui.
Currently, both countries are deepening cooperation in the fields of energy, spaceflight, and aviation.
"The influence of China-Russia cooperation is not only bilateral but also an important part of the current international landscape," said Prof. Cui. He believes that apart from the economic sector, it is also important for Russia and China to continue strengthening cooperation in agriculture, the tertiary industry, and high-tech industries. Moreover, further cooperation lies in the fields of education and culture.
China and Russia are shaping a new type of bilateral relationship
At the Munich Security Conference this year, Chinese FM Wang Yi indicated that China and Russia are exploring a new type of relationship between major countries, which is based on the principle of non-alignment, non-confrontation, and non-targeting of any third party.
Prof. Cui pointed out that this new type of relationship is very much in line with the interests of the two countries in the new era, as China and Russia have always been committed to pursuing win-win cooperation, actively seeking the convergence of respective national interests, and consistently endeavoring for an equal and orderly multipolar world.
"The two countries have always opposed all forms of hegemony and provocation of confrontation and division, and have actively worked to promote the building of a community of shared future," he added. "Seeking common ground while reserving differences, and increasing political mutual trust may contribute to the development of global peace and stability."
Prof. Cui observed that under the current complicated and geopolitically unstable international situation, Russia and China, as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, should shoulder greater responsibility for maintaining world peace and stability. This is not only in the fundamental interests of Russia and China but also expected by the world.
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