Vladimir Putin held pre-New Year talks with Xi Jinping

On December 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks via videoconference with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The open part of the conversation, the preparation of which is still on December 13 reported Vedomosti lasted about 10 minutes.

Putin once again congratulated Xi on the successful holding of the 20th Congress of the CCP, as well as the head of the PRC and the entire Chinese people on the New Year both according to the Gregorian and the Chinese calendar (in 2023 it will be celebrated at the end of January), wishing peace and prosperity . The Russian president said that Xi is expected in Moscow on a state visit in the spring of 2023. As Russian Ambassador to China Igor Morgulov said earlier, this could happen after the session of the NPC, which opens on March 5, at which key state posts of the PRC will be distributed for the next five years.

“This [госвизит Си в Россию] will demonstrate to the whole world the strength of Russian-Chinese ties on key issues,” Putin said. He also said that Dmitry Medvedev, leader of the United Russia party and deputy chairman of the Security Council, who recently visited Beijing, reported to him about the warm welcome and meaningful conversation with Xi. According to Putin, the current relations between Russia and China are the best in history, they can be considered a model of cooperation between major powers in the 21st century. The two countries also intend to continue cooperation in the military-technical sphere.

Speaking about the results of 2022, Putin noted that the trade turnover between Russia and China would grow by about 25% (in January-November 2002, according to the Federal Customs Service, it amounted to $170 billion, in 2021 for the same period – $148 billion). According to his calculations, while maintaining such dynamics, the parties will overcome the target bar of $200 billion set by 2024 ahead of schedule. In addition, Russia is now in second place in terms of pipeline gas supplies to China and in fourth place in terms of imported LNG.

The Chinese President, in turn, said that his country is ready to build up political cooperation with Russia.

“In the face of a difficult, far from unambiguous international environment, we are ready to increase strategic cooperation, provide each other with opportunities for development, and be global partners for the benefit of our peoples and for the stability of the world,” Xi said. He added that the parties are in close strategic contact.

The emphasis in the public part of the conversation between the leaders was made on Xi’s planned visit to Russia in the spring, which will take place exactly 10 years after his first trip to Moscow in the status of President of China, said Alexander Lomanov, head of the Center for Asia-Pacific Studies at IMEMO RAS. Then the Chinese leader met not only with politicians, but also read a conceptual speech at MGIMO and met with sinologists.

The new visit will be aimed at emphasizing the strength and stability of Russian-Chinese relations, the expert told Vedomosti. At the same time, it is noteworthy that there were no reports of negotiations with Putin from the Chinese side at the time of publication of the material. But, judging by the Russian version of the negotiations, all the basic provisions of the last 10-20 years were confirmed at them, and this can be considered the greatest achievement in the current conditions, Lomanov concludes.