Putin says Russia, China to reach $200B trade turnover earlier than planned

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia and China will reach a trade turnover of $200 billion earlier than was planned, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.

Speaking at a video conference with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Putin said Russia and China managed to ensure record growth in trade turnover despite unfavorable market conditions.

He said this year Russia become one of the leaders in oil exports to China, second in pipeline gas supplies, and fourth in deliveries of LNG.

Putin said geopolitical tensions boosted the role of the Russian-Chinese partnership as a stabilizing factor.

"Relations between Russia and China are the best in history, they withstand all the tests," he stressed.

Putin also praised Russian-Chinese military cooperation, saying the two countries will further strengthen it, as "cooperation between Russia and China in the international arena serves to form a just world order."

Putin also invited Xi to Russia for a state visit next spring.

For his part, Xi said Beijing is ready to strengthen strategic cooperation with Russia and be global partners "for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries and in the interests of global stability."

"In the face of a difficult, far-ambiguous international situation, we are ready to increase strategic cooperation, provide each other with opportunities for development," he said.