On May 14, 2017, President Xi Jinping met at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, who was in China for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF).

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Russia are good neighbors, good friends and good partners. Since the beginning of this year, China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination has maintained a high-level development with another batch of new outcomes in various fields. 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-Russia Friendship Committee for Peace and Development as well as the 60th anniversary of establishment of the Russia-China Friendship Association, and both countries make colorful activity plans and actively implement them to this end, which have enhanced mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples and consolidated the social and public opinion foundation for China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination. Against complicated and ever-changing international situation, China and Russia shoulder their due responsibilities as major countries, commit to promoting the political settlement process of relevant hotspot issues, and play their important roles as ballast stones in safeguarding regional and world peace and stability.

Xi Jinping stressed that the development and deepening of China-Russia relations are the two countries’ strategic choice. No matter how the international situation changes, both countries should spare no efforts to well develop and maintain bilateral relations. The two sides should deepen cooperation in such traditional fields as economy, trade, and energy, and well implement major projects. Meanwhile, cooperation in science, technology, innovation and other fields should be expanded, so as to push bilateral practical cooperation for higher levels and more outcomes. Both countries should enhance strategic coordination, jointly promote the sustained and stable growth for world economy, push forward the peaceful settlement of international and regional hotspot issues, and improve global governance system, in a bid to inject more positive energy into world peace and stability.

Xi Jinping noted that in May 2015, China and Russia reached strategic consensus on the docking between the “Belt and Road” construction and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), which received active response and participation of other EEU members. Over the past 2 years, the docking cooperation has enjoyed steady implementation with remarkable achievements. In the next phase, China is willing to, together with Russia, jointly promote the alignment cooperation for constant and practical results, and stands ready to deepen practical cooperation with the EEU and implement the docking projects. China and Russia should join hands to create sound conditions for the self-development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as well as for the docking between the “Belt and Road” construction and the EEU.

Vladimir Putin firstly congratulated on the successful opening of the BRF, and appreciated China’s proposal of the “Belt and Road” initiative as well as the hosting of the forum against the current international situation, which will be conducive to promoting economic exchanges and cooperation among all countries. Vladimir Putin expressed that Russia-China relations enjoy high-level development with frequent high-level exchanges, close communication between governmental departments and legislative institutions, and rapid growth as well as improvement of structure of bilateral trade. The Russian side is ready to work with China to well conduct the docking of development strategies between the EEU and the Silk Road Economic Belt, and advance the implementation of relevant major cooperation projects. Russia and China should deepen cooperation in such fields as trade, energy, manufacturing, education, local affairs, tourism and sports. The active communication and coordination as well as mutual support between both countries in major international issues are an important stable factor in the international community.

The two heads of state also exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula situation and other international and regional topics of common concern.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others attended the meeting.