As he wished Vladimir Putin a happy New Year, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated on Sunday that the basis of Sino-Russian relations had been stronger in 2023, according to official media.
Beijing and Moscow are steadfast allies who have grown closer despite the West’s disapproval of Russia due to its military incursion into neighboring Ukraine.
The two presidents’ personal friendship has also received a lot of attention from both parties; Xi has called Putin his “good friend.”
Xi said that “the material and public opinion foundation of our relationship has become stronger” in his recap of the year to Putin on Sunday, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
“In the face of changes unseen in a century and a turbulent regional and international situation, China-Russia relations have maintained healthy and stable development and moved steadily in the right direction,” Xi said.
“Under our joint leadership, political mutual trust between the two sides has further deepened, strategic coordination has drawn closer, and mutually beneficial cooperation has continued to achieve new results,” the Chinese leader was quoted as saying.
Xi noted that the volume of bilateral trade exceeded $200 billion ahead of schedule, and said Beijing was looking forward to marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties in 2024.
During a visit to Beijing by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin this month, Xi said maintaining close ties with Moscow was a “strategic choice”.