On the afternoon of May 24, 2023, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin who is on an official visit to China.
Xi Jinping asked Mikhail Mishustin to convey his sincere greetings to President Vladimir Putin. Xi Jinping noted that during his successful state visit to Russia in March this year, he and President Vladimir Putin drew a blueprint for the development of China-Russia relations and cooperation in various fields for some time to come. Cementing and ensuring the sound growth of China-Russia relations is not only what the people want but also the trend of the times. Xi Jinping expressed the hope that the two sides will continue to leverage the strengths of bilateral cooperation characterized by vast space, broad prospects and strong momentum, elevate cooperation in various fields to a higher level, and constantly enrich the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between the two countries for a new era.
Xi Jinping stressed that China will work with Russia to continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning respective core interests, and strengthen cooperation in multilateral arenas such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, and the G20. He also noted that the two sides need to further tap into their potential to enhance the level of cooperation in economy, trade and investment, establish sound bilateral cooperation systems and mechanisms, consolidate and expand existing cooperation in energy and connectivity, and foster more new sources of growth. The two sides need to continue to expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges to break new ground in people-to-people relations. China is ready to work with Russia and other countries of the Eurasian Economic Union to foster greater synergy with the Union in Belt and Road cooperation, facilitate the formation of a more open, large regional market, ensure stable and unimpeded global industrial and supply chains, and deliver tangible benefits to countries in the region.
Mikhail Mishustin conveyed Vladimir Putin's cordial greetings and best wishes to Xi Jinping, and said that President Xi Jinping's historic state visit to Russia in March this year was a great success, which has opened up a new era for the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination. Mishustin noted that Russia is ready to work with China to earnestly follow through on the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, make full use of the regular prime ministers’ meeting mechanism and relevant cooperation mechanisms between the two countries, and deepen practical cooperation across the board. Russia is ready to work with China to promote a multi-polar world, and strengthen the international order based on international law. Russia expects to further enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges with China, so that the Russia-China friendship will be passed on from generation to generation.
Wang Yi, He Lifeng, and Qin Gang, among others, attended the meeting.
