Russian, Chinese presidents discuss bilateral ties in video call

By Dmitri Chirciu and Busra Nur Cakmak

MOSCOW/ANKARA (AA) - Bilateral relations between Russia and China is “a shining example of interstate cooperation in the 21st century”, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.

Putin was speaking at a video conference with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, according to a statement from the Russian presidency.

In his opening remarks released by the Kremlin, the Russian president said that the two leaders have maintained close contact.

He recalled that the two countries launched the joint construction of four new power units for a nuclear power plant in China in May and held a video conference in June on the 20th anniversary of the Russia-China Treaty on Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.

“A new model of cooperation has developed between our countries, a model based, in part, on the principles of non-interference in each other’s affairs and mutual resolve to turn our common border into a belt of eternal peace and good-neighbourliness,” he added.

Putin also said that the two countries are strengthening trade and economic ties.

“From January to November this year, our mutual trade has increased by 31 percent to $123 billion. We have beaten the record of the pre-pandemic year, 2019,” he said.

“In the near term, as agreed, we will pass the $200 billion mark. We are implementing a number of large-scale joint projects in energy, including nuclear generation, industry and high technology,” the Russian president added.

For his part, according to China’s Xinhua news agency, Xi said: “China and Russia have acted as responsible major countries, becoming the central pillar of practicing multilateralism and safeguarding international equity and justice.”