International Desk: At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay an official visit to China on May 19 and 20. The visit comes as this year marks the 30th anniversary of the China–Russia strategic coordination partnership and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between the two countries.

Against the backdrop of an increasingly complex and rapidly changing international environment, the two leaders are expected to provide strategic guidance to ensure that China–Russia relations remain stable and resilient while contributing greater certainty and stability to the world.

Observers note that the leadership of Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin has become the greatest advantage and the fundamental guarantee behind the high-level development of China–Russia relations. For more than a decade, the two leaders have maintained close communication through various channels, engaging in numerous candid and in-depth exchanges.

In 2019, Xi and Putin jointly announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a “comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era,” marking a significant qualitative leap in relations. Since then, both sides have continued to deepen strategic communication, strengthen political mutual trust and advance cooperation across a wide range of sectors.

Practical cooperation has remained the core driving force behind the steady growth of China–Russia relations. Despite a challenging global environment, bilateral trade has exceeded 200 billion U.S. dollars for three consecutive years. Cooperation in key sectors has become deeper and more results-oriented, while collaboration in emerging fields such as connectivity, artificial intelligence, aerospace, the green economy and cross-border e-commerce has expanded rapidly.

Analysts say bilateral cooperation has evolved from quantitative growth to qualitative advancement, delivering tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

People-to-people exchanges have also grown significantly following the implementation of visa-free travel policies between China and Russia. Educational, cultural and tourism exchanges continue to deepen. Last year, the two countries successfully hosted the “China–Russia Years of Culture,” featuring a wide range of activities aimed at strengthening mutual understanding between the two peoples.

This year has been designated as the “China–Russia Year of Education,” which is expected to further promote generational friendship and deepen public understanding and goodwill between the two nations.

On the international stage, China and Russia have consistently coordinated and supported each other, demonstrating what observers describe as a commitment to fairness, justice and responsible global leadership during times of uncertainty and transformation.

As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and major global powers, China and Russia have jointly advocated for international fairness and justice, firmly safeguarded the outcomes of World War II, and upheld the international system centered on the United Nations as well as the fundamental principles of international law.

Facing growing uncertainty and instability in global affairs, both countries have emphasized the importance of strengthening multilateral cooperation, upholding true multilateralism, revitalizing the authority and effectiveness of the United Nations, and deepening coordination within frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS to promote a more just and equitable international order.

Source: Cai–Touhid–Wang Haiman, China Media Group.