The Chinese president has invited his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to visit China this year, Xi Jinping announced in Moscow on Tuesday.
“On Monday, I invited President Putin to visit China this year, as soon as it is convenient for him,” Xi said at the start of a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
The invitation was made for the purpose of holding the third forum dedicated to the “Belt and Road” Initiative, a gigantic international infrastructure project launched by China, which provides for the construction of roads, ports or rail links, with a view to opening new trade exchanges. routes between East Asia and Europe.
Xi said that the new Chinese premier, Li Qiang, will give priority to developing the partnership with Russia. The Chinese head of state also called on Mishustin to visit China “as soon as possible.”
The Chinese leader traveled to the Russian government headquarters before visiting the Kremlin, where he will meet Putin again.
Xi and Mishustin shook hands and posed in front of the Chinese and Russian flags for a formal photo call.
“First of all, I would like to congratulate you on your re-election as President of the PRC. And I would like to sincerely thank you for the great personal attention you devote to the development of Russia-China friendship and partnership,” Mishustin said.
The premier also stressed the importance of this being Xi’s first overseas trip since he was re-elected as head of state during the plenary session of the National People’s Congress this month. Xi’s victory in a third term is unprecedented in communist Chinese history, cementing his status as the most powerful Chinese leader in decades.
“This shows the special nature of Sino-Chinese relations, which is entering a new era,” he stressed.
Mishustin said he was convinced that important agreements would be reached in the talks between Putin and Xi.
“Talks with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin will be held in the Kremlin today. Important decisions on the development of Russia-China cooperation are expected to be taken by 2030,” he said.
The Prime Minister assured that the two governments will work in a coordinated manner in the implementation of the agreements that will be reached at the highest level.
“We in Russia are sincerely interested in further strengthening our comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation with China. Our relations are at the highest level in a history of many centuries and influence the shaping of the global agenda, the logic of the multipolarity”, said the Russian prime minister.
Mishustin noted that most members of the Russian government will attend the meeting with Xi.
“The coordination of our common work is ensured by the mechanism of regular meetings between the heads of government of Russia and China. This is a unique format that includes five intergovernmental commissions and more than 80 subcommittees and working groups, ”he emphasized.
The investment portfolio of the Russian-Chinese Intergovernmental Commission for Investment Cooperation includes 79 projects, with a combined value of more than 165 billion US dollars, it added.
Mishustin also said he was confident that Russia-China trade would reach $200 billion this year, and not in 2024, as originally planned.
Last year, trade increased by almost a third, to around $190 billion.
The Russian Prime Minister stressed that despite the unfavorable external situation, the turmoil in global markets and the imposition of sanctions by the West, trade and economic cooperation between Russia and China is developing successfully.
Source: TSF
