Kazan, October 23, 2024 – The Europe Today: Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted the exceptional strength of Russia-China relations during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan. The two leaders, who met on Tuesday ahead of the main event, discussed a range of bilateral and global issues.
Putin praised the relationship between Russia and China as “equal and mutually beneficial,” emphasizing that it is independent of external influences. He noted that the partnership has achieved the status of a comprehensive strategic cooperation, adding, “We can say with full confidence that they have become a standard for how relations between two states should be built in the modern world.” He also pointed out that the cooperation serves as a “stabilizing factor on the world arena.”
President Xi Jinping echoed these sentiments, commending the bilateral ties, which have reached unprecedented levels over the past decade. He emphasized that the partnership between the two countries significantly contributes to “defending international justice.”
Following the meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the discussions as “very open” and “constructive.”
China remains Russia’s largest trading partner, with trade between the two nations continuing to grow despite Western sanctions. Russian-Chinese trade volume reached $82 billion in the first nine months of 2024, nearing the total figure for all of 2023, which was a record year for bilateral trade. Projections suggest that this year may surpass previous records, with trade having grown two and a half times since 2020.
Additionally, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin recently stated that over 95% of mutual settlements between Russia and China are now conducted in rubles or yuan, further solidifying their economic cooperation.
