🎙 Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement to the press following Russia-China talks (Beijing, May 20, 2026)

💬 Russia-China relations have reached a truly unprecedented level and continue to develop. At the same time, our relations are self-sustaining, independent of the current global environment, and serve as a model for how relations between countries and peoples should be built today.

As for today’s talks, they took place in a traditionally warm, comradely and constructive atmosphere. All key areas of bilateral cooperation were discussed in detail.

The Joint Statement adopted following the talks outlines the priority areas of Russia-China interaction.

A substantial package of intergovernmental, interagency and corporate documents was also signed – around 40 in total. Many are aimed at further deepening economic cooperation.

I would like to emphasise that Russia and China are important trading partners for each other. In 2025, trade turnover reached almost $240 billion, while its structure expanded, including through goods with high added value.

Coordinated steps to switch settlements between modern enterprises in Russia and China – and between our countries as a whole – to national currencies were of major importance. As a result, practically all Russia-China export-import operations are carried out in rubles and yuan. In effect, we have built a stable system of mutual trade that is protected from external influence and negative trends on global markets.

Russia is modernising key railway lines in the eastern direction, such as the Trans-Siberian and Baikal-Amur mainlines. The infrastructure of the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor, including its main artery – the Northern Sea Route – is also being consistently expanded.

Following the successful cross Years of Culture, Russia and China are launching new major interstate humanitarian projects – for example, the Russia-China Year of Education. Its programme of the cross years includes hundreds of different events – conferences and seminars, concerts, exhibitions and master classes, academic competitions and contests.

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💬 President Xi Jinping and I also exchanged views on current international issues.

Following this exchange, a Joint Declaration was adopted, confirming reflecting the convergence of our countries’ principled approaches.

☝️ The key point is that Russia and China are committed to an independent and self-reliant foreign policy, act in close strategic coordination, and play an important stabilising role on the world stage.

We are working together for the sake of peace and universal prosperity. It is in this spirit that Moscow and Beijing jointly stand in defence of international law and the provisions of the UN Charter in their entirety, totality and interconnection, interact effectively within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, #BRICS and other international structures, and make a significant contribution to addressing urgent global and regional issues.

Russia supports the priorities of China’s presidency of #APEC this year. For our part, we will provide all necessary assistance in their practical implementation. I am confident that the Summit of this association in Shenzhen will be productive.

Of course, we will continue to closely coordinate our positions in such multilateral formats as the #G20, the World Trade Organisation, the World Bank and the IMF, as well as the New Development Bank. We intend to facilitate the alignment of integration processes within the #EAEU and China’s Belt and Road Initiative, with a view to forming the Greater Eurasian Partnership.

#RussiaChina