BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday described relations between China and Russia as “precious”, stressing their stability and strategic importance amid what he called a global environment marked by “change and chaos”.
Xi made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is on a two-day visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
According to official readouts, Xi said the current international situation had made the “stability and certainty” of China–Russia ties stand out more prominently.
He added that the long-standing friendship treaty between the two countries had demonstrated “strong vitality” and continued relevance under present geopolitical conditions.
The Chinese president called for deeper coordination between the two foreign ministries, urging them to fully implement the consensus reached with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He further encouraged both sides to enhance strategic communication and diplomatic alignment to strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership, ensuring it “stands higher, walks more steadily and goes further.”
Xi did not elaborate on the specific “chaos” he referred to, though his remarks come amid heightened global uncertainty, including ongoing international tensions linked to conflicts such as the war in Iran.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has recently said in an interview that the Iran conflict is nearing its end, reiterating assertions of a US-led victory.
China and Russia have significantly expanded their political and economic ties in recent years, particularly following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
While shifting US policy under Trump has added complexity to global alignments, analysts say it has not fundamentally altered the trajectory of Beijing–Moscow relations.
During a visit to China in September, Putin referred to Xi as a “dear friend”, while Xi also described the Russian leader as an “old friend”, reflecting the continued close tone of bilateral diplomacy.
