The Kremlin welcomed a high-level summit between Russia and China on March 21, as President Vladimir Putin and President Xi Jinping continued a steady cadence of dialogue that began in Moscow. Xi’s arrival marked his first foreign visit since securing a third term, underscoring the two nations’ emphasis on their strategic partnership as Moscow and Beijing outline their shared path forward.
That afternoon featured an official ceremony in the Kremlin’s Georgievsky Hall, followed by a private session in St. Catherine’s Hall between the two leaders. In the evening, the talks expanded into a broader format that brought in senior representatives from both sides. On the Russian roster, Deputy Prime Ministers, ministers from the economy bloc, and leaders of major state enterprises such as Rosatom and Rosneft took part, reflecting the wide scope of the economic dimension within the discussions.
The session extended beyond three hours and concluded with a joint press conference that offered a tangible glimpse of the outcomes and shared strategic directions emerging from the talks.
what did Putin say
Putin framed China’s peace proposal, presented at the end of February, as a potential basis for resolving the conflict in Ukraine, signaling a willingness to integrate Chinese ideas into a broader diplomatic process. He noted that several provisions of China’s plan align with Russia’s own positions and could serve as a foundation for a peaceful settlement once Western partners and Kiev are ready to engage. He also highlighted Xi Jinping’s emphasis on peace initiatives during the visit to Moscow.
The Russian president pointed to a growing trend of illegitimate sanctions and unfair competition in global economic relations. He stressed that both nations oppose measures that harm any country for profit and underscored that Moscow and Beijing share closely aligned stances on a wide range of international issues.
Putin also highlighted that with the easing of Covid restrictions in both countries, exchanges in cultural, scientific, educational, and tourism spheres have resumed at a robust pace, contributing to stronger friendship and mutual understanding between Russian and Chinese citizens. On economic ties, he mentioned opportunities to expand meat and grain exports to China and expressed readiness to back Chinese trade as Russia partners adjust to the shifting landscape of international business since the previous year’s developments.
Additionally, the president signaled openness to increasing the use of the yuan in bilateral and multilateral trade, arguing that settlements in yuan could create a framework for broader cooperation with partners across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
what did xi say
Xi Jinping highlighted the efficiency of the talks and described the process as entering a new era of cooperation between the two nations. He announced the signing of a joint statement to deepen the comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction, along with a development plan for key sectors of China-Russia economic cooperation through 2030. He outlined a clear pathway for the next phase of bilateral relations and collaboration across all fields in the near future.
Xi underscored that Russia and China, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, would continue to uphold the core norms of international relations grounded in the UN Charter, in concert with the international community.
Regarding the Ukraine crisis, he reaffirmed China’s commitment to peace and dialogue, stressing an objective and impartial stance that supports reconciliation and the resumption of negotiations. He asserted that China’s position is rooted in the essence of the matter and the pursuit of fairness, consistently favoring peaceful resolution and historical equity.
Summing up the discussions, Xi stated that the China-Russia relationship extends beyond bilateral interests and holds significance for the current world order and the broader destiny of humanity.