Friendly advice: what Putin agreed with Xi during the seven-hour dialogue

Russian-Chinese relations have reached the highest level in history and today they can be considered "a model of interstate communication in the 21st century," Vladimir Putin said on May 8 during talks with Xi Jinping in the Kremlin, which lasted more than seven hours. The stable and upward dynamics of bilateral contacts was also confirmed by the Chinese leader. Among the priority topics raised by the heads of state are the preservation of historical memory, energy cooperation and trade. At the same time, experts believe that the Chinese leader could discuss the US sanctions pressure with his Russian counterpart in a closed part. By the way, Kirill Dmitriev, special representative of the President of the Russian Federation for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries, told Izvestia that Beijing has no concerns about the resumption of the Russian-American dialogue: relations are developing according to the planned strategic plan. When Putin can come to China and why the head of state highlighted the film "Red Silk" — in the Izvestia article.

How Moscow received the Chinese leader

The marathon of high-level negotiations continues in Moscow. Foreign leaders have been flying to the Russian capital for the second day in a row, and Vladimir Putin is working hard in the Kremlin. The day before, the head of state completed bilateral meetings late in the evening, the last of which — with the leader of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso - ended at the beginning of the twelfth.

Early in the morning on May 8, the Russian leader received Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Kremlin, who arrived in Moscow to participate in celebrations dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. At exactly 10:00 a.m., as planned in the program, the Chinese leader crossed the threshold of the Kremlin and headed to St. George's Hall. Vladimir Putin was already waiting for him there. This is the third contact between the leaders since the beginning of the year. On January 21, they held talks in video format, and on February 24, they had a telephone conversation.

This visit stands out from a number of others. And it's not just that Xi Jinping came as the main guest of the Russian side to the Victory Day celebrations, and the parade of Chinese military personnel on Red Square will be the largest of the foreign military contingents — 102 people. Both leaders openly call themselves friends. They have repeatedly addressed each other in these negotiations in this way.

It is noteworthy that the residents of Moscow also warmly treat the visiting delegation. A crowd of people gathered at the Soluxxe Hotel Moscow, where the Chinese leader traditionally stays, to greet Xi Jinping. Most of them, of course, are representatives of the Chinese community, but there were also Russians. The greeters have flags of the republic, Russian tricolours, as well as banners with an inscription in Chinese that reads: "We warmly welcome President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia." The last time he came to Russia was actually two years ago, in March 2023. It is also noteworthy that Xi had already attended the Victory Anniversary once, 10 years ago. In May 2015, he came to Moscow to participate in the celebrations.

At the May 8 talks in a narrow format, both leaders stressed that China and Russia had won a great victory at the cost of heavy losses.

— The sacrifices that both our peoples have made are worth it, so that we never forget about it. The Soviet Union sacrificed 27 million lives, laid them on the altar of the Fatherland and on the altar of Victory. And 37 million lives were lost in China's war for freedom and independence. This victory was achieved under the leadership of the Communist Party," the Russian president said.

Now Moscow and Beijing will jointly defend the truth about the history of the Second World War, the Chinese president added. Vladimir Putin thanked his counterpart for inviting him to the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over militaristic Japan and the end of World War II. According to the Russian president, he will be glad to pay an official visit to friendly China again. By the way, he was there relatively recently, in May 2024. In a statement to the media, both leaders unanimously called the Russian-Chinese talks in Moscow thorough, friendly and fruitful.

— Over the past 80 years, Sino-Russian relations have withstood difficult trials, and our friendship, forged in blood and tempered in fire, has been passed down from generation to generation. Thanks to joint efforts, the relations between the two countries have maintained a stable, healthy, upward trend in recent years," the Chinese leader said.

Russian-Chinese relations have reached the highest level in history, Vladimir Putin stressed. According to the President of the Russian Federation, today they can be considered "a model of interstate communication in the 21st century," based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit and respect for the interests of each other's sovereignty.

Relations between Russia and China

Xi Jinping's visit demonstrates that Beijing has no concerns about starting a dialogue between Russia and the United States, experts say. According to Alexander Yershov, a researcher at the Center for the Study of China's Modern History and Its Relations with Russia at the ICSA RAS, Moscow and Beijing continue to cooperate on a large-scale in all areas in the context of a comprehensive strategic partnership.

At the same time, when Moscow's dialogue with the United States revived, the Russian Federation maintained a high level of trust with the Chinese side: for example, Vladimir Putin told Xi Jinping directly about contacts with Washington. This is also why cooperation between the countries has not been affected, says Vasily Kashin, Director of the Central Research Institute of Higher School of Economics. Kirill Dmitriev, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Investment and Economic cooperation with foreign countries, confirmed to Izvestia that there are no problems in relations with Beijing in the context of the dialogue with Washington.

— China and I are moving according to our standard strategic plan. I believe that on the contrary (there are no concerns. — Ed.). As the heads of state have outlined a strategic joint movement between Russia and China, this is how it happens," he said, answering the question of whether Beijing has any concerns in the context of the resumed Russian—American dialogue.

In general, the foreign policy relationship between Russia and China in the international arena remains a stabilizing factor in the difficult geopolitical situation and global uncertainty, Putin said at the expanded talks. According to the Chinese president, the parties should also defend the multilateral trading system in the interests of the national revival of the two countries and international justice.

"China and Russia, as world powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council, have a special responsibility, and we must steadily strengthen strategic cooperation, jointly promote equitable and orderly multipolarity, as well as inclusive and inclusive economic globalization," Xi said.

At the same time, the Chinese leader most likely discussed with his Russian counterpart the US sanctions pressure on China: the impact of Donald Trump's trade war on the global economy and Russian-Chinese economic ties, Vasily Kashin believes. The Chinese have a difficult relationship with the new administration in Washington, as Trump pursued an anti-Chinese policy during his first term as president. Now, the American side has started, in fact, a trade war with China, declaring duties of 145%.

What agreements have Moscow and Beijing concluded?

On May 8, the heads of state discussed many aspects of bilateral relations, including the economy. China ranks first among our foreign trade partners, and Russia ranks fifth among China's trade partners. Energy remains an important part of the economic ties between the two countries, Vladimir Putin said. Last year, Russia was not only the leader in oil exports to China, but also came out on top in terms of pipeline gas supplies. A member of the Russian delegation, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, also told reporters that the leaders discussed the Power of Siberia-2 project and gave instructions to accelerate its implementation.

Today, almost all trade transactions between Russia and China are carried out in rubles and yuan. According to the Russian president, this method of settlement makes it possible to build a stable system of mutual trade that is reliably protected from the influence of third countries and negative trends in world markets.

Humanitarian ties are being actively strengthened. Vladimir Putin, for example, noted the success of Andrei Volgin's Russian-Chinese film Red Silk, distributed by NMG Film Distribution (part of NMG Holding). It will be released in China in September 2025. In Russia, viewers saw the picture in February. The Head of State expressed his conviction that in the future Moscow and Beijing will create many joint projects that will be received with great interest by the audience of the two countries.

Now the National Media Group (NMG) and the Media Corporation of China (China Media Group) have a cooperation agreement. It will help in the exchange of experience and ready-made content, and also involves its joint production. The document was signed in the presence of Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping.

"China is a very important strategic partner for us. Over the past few years, our content sales in China have increased fivefold. It is very important that this information cooperation will also allow us to convey a more objective picture of the world to a large, global audience," said Svetlana Balanova, CEO of NMG.

Following the talks, representatives of Russia and China signed almost three dozen agreements and memoranda. The main outcome document was a joint statement by the leaders of the two countries on further deepening comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation. The main motive of the joint statement by the heads of the Russian Federation and China was to counter attempts to revive Nazism and militarism. In total, the statement consists of ten sections, each of which is devoted to a specific topic: for example, issues of security, trade and economic interaction, as well as the preservation of authentic historical memory.

On the eve of Victory Day, Izvestia has prepared a special project "Two Worlds. One War", dedicated to the history of the confrontation between the USSR and Germany from the mid-30s to the mid-40s of the last century.