Putin Says Russia-China Relations Reach Highest Level

Russian President Vladimir Putin with Chinese President Xi Jinping/© Sergey Bobylev/POOL/TASS

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin said relations between Russia and China have reached an "unprecedented level", while bilateral trade has increased more than 30 times in the past 25 years.

Speaking at a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, Putin called Xi a "close friend" and quoted a Chinese proverb that states "if friends do not meet for a day, it feels like three autumns have passed."

Putin said at the opening of the talks in the Fujian Hall, the Great Hall of the People, that Russian-Chinese relations are now "an example of partnership."

"In the midst of the crisis in the Middle East, Russia continues to maintain its role as a reliable supplier of resources, while China remains a responsible consumer of these resources," he said, quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, Wednesday, May 20.

Putin also reiterated his intention to attend the 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Cooperation Summit in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen in November and invited Xi to visit Russia next year.

According to Putin, Moscow and Beijing continue to support "cultural and civilizational diversity" and respect the path of development of the sovereignty of each country.