🇷🇺🇨🇳 President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China (November 18, 2025, Moscow)

💬 Vladimir Putin: Close Russia-China cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (#SCO) is helping to shape the SCO into one of the pillars of a multipolar international order, to draw the countries of the Global South into its orbit, and to help advance an open and non-discriminatory global trading system.

I believe that, at the level of the SCO Council of Heads of Government this year, we were able to organically complement the efforts undertaken by our Chinese friends during their chairmanship, which successfully culminated in the Summit in Tianjin.

I warmly recall my visit to that remarkable, beautiful and modern Chinese city, as well as my extensive conversations with my friend President Xi Jinping in Tianjin and later in Beijing during the commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of China’s victory over militarist Japan and the end of the Second World War.

🤝 Please convey my very best wishes and warm greetings to the President of the People’s Republic of China.

The comprehensive Russian-Chinese relations of partnership and strategic interaction, having entered a new era, are truly experiencing the best period in their history. They are built upon the principles of equality, mutual benefit, and mutual support on issues affecting each other’s core interests, and are not directed against anyone. <…>

In 2024, we achieved record figures in bilateral trade – the highest in the history of our relations. We will continue to strengthen trade cooperation in line with our approved long-term plans. It is important to ensure the reliable protection of our trade and economic cooperation from negative external influences.

Taking our partnership to a new qualitative level and reinforcing its technological foundation will be facilitated by a broad range of joint sectoral projects in energy, industry, space and agriculture. The training of qualified personnel also requires close attention. In this regard, the Russia-China Years of Education in 2026-2027, which we have already planned, will be particularly useful. In my view, this is a very timely and positive initiative.

Our humanitarian exchanges are also developing dynamically. The Cross Years of Culture are drawing to a successful close.

Further expansion of contacts between our peoples will certainly be promoted by the decision of our Chinese friends to introduce a visa-free regime for Russian citizens. We are grateful for this goodwill gesture.

On our side, reciprocal measures for citizens of the People’s Republic of China visiting Russia will enter into force in the very near future. I am confident that this will have very substantial effects both economically and in humanitarian terms. In my opinion, it will serve as a distinctly positive boost to the advancement of our relations.

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