Russia-China Breaks Trade Record Of IDR 3.56 Quadrillion

DOC/China President Xi Jinping with Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Wikimedia Commons/Kremlin.ru/Presidential Press and Information Office)

JAKARTA - The presidents of Russia and China congratulated each other by telephone following their record trading volume of $227.7 billion (around Rp3.56 quadrillion) in 2023.

The trade figures between the two countries exceeded the target set by the leaders of Russia and China one year earlier, according to a statement from Kremlin as reported by ANTARA, Friday, February 9.

Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping concluded that the result was the impact of the development of partnerships and strategic cooperation in their country.

They expressed a common interest in further enhancing cooperation in all fields, and noted that this year the two countries commemorated 75 years of their diplomatic relations.

"Both sides affirm their readiness to improve coordination of foreign policy within the framework of various multilateral structures, particularly at the United Nations, BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization," the Russian government said in an official statement.

When exchanging views on the situation in the Middle East, Putin and Xi supported the political and diplomatic resolution of Palestinian issues within the framework of general recognized international law.

Putin reiterated Russia's support for the One China policy when it spoke of tensions surrounding Taiwan. The two leaders also discussed the situation in Ukraine.

Putin and Xi also "enforced the close interaction of Russia-China is an important stabilizing factor in world affairs," the Kremlin said.

China's state-owned media reported Xi stressed both sides "must intensify strategic coordination, safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, as well as firmly oppose external interference in domestic affairs."

"Both parties must foster new momentum for bilateral cooperation (and) maintain the stability of industrial and supply chains," Xi told Putin.

Xi said their country should "together hold cultural exchanges that connect the hearts of the two nations and continue to tighten the relationship of the people's togetherness."

Xi also said China and Russia "must support Kazakhstan to host this year's Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit, increase mutual unity and trust and maintain regional security and stability as well as the common interests of regional countries."

He also supports Russia in taking over the post of president of BRICS this year.

Beijing "willing to work closely with Russia to strengthen international multilateral coordination, practice true mulilateralism, support an equal and orderly multipolar world and globalization of the economy that benefits all parties, and make the global government system fairer and more reasonable, so that it can make a positive contribution in building communities with a common future for mankind," he added.

The conversation by telephone between the two leaders came one day after China's Chouzhou Commercial Bank, one of Russia's largest banks for exporters, told its clients in Russia and Belarus that it ended all operations there due to payment concerns related to sanctions from the West.