President Xi says China, Russia to shoulder special responsibility as major countries

In the face of the countercurrent of unilateralism, power politics and bullying in the world, China will work with Russia to shoulder their special responsibility as major countries and permanent members of the UN Security Council, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.

Xi made these remarks during talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of his state visit to Russia. The two leaders exchanged in-depth views on China-Russia relations and major international and regional issues, reaching a consensus on the need to deepen strategic coordination and promote the stable, healthy and high-level development of their bilateral relations.

They also emphasized the importance of promoting the correct historical perspective on World War II, maintaining the authority and status of the United Nations, and safeguarding international justice and fairness.

Following a grand welcoming ceremony, the two leaders held small-group and large-group talks.

In recent years, Xi noted, China-Russia ties have seen stable, healthy and high-level development due to joint efforts from both sides. He praised their long-term good-neighborly friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation as key features of their bilateral relationship.

Xi highlighted that the political mutual trust between the two countries has grown deeper, with practical cooperation strengthening and people-to-people exchanges flourishing. These efforts have made China-Russia relations more confident, stable and resilient in the new era.

He further stated that history and reality have fully proved that continuing to develop and deepen China-Russia relations is integral to carrying forward the friendship between the two peoples from generation to generation, adding that it is an inevitable choice for both sides to achieve mutual success and promote their own development and revitalization.

It is also the call of the times to safeguard international fairness and justice and promote the reform of the global governance system, Xi said.

Xi also pointed out that 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victories of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War and the World Anti-Fascist War. He noted that 80 years ago, the peoples of China and Russia made immense sacrifices and achieved great victories, significantly contributing to world peace and human progress.

China will work with Russia to take a clear stand to jointly promote the correct historical perspective on World War II, safeguard the authority and status of the United Nations, firmly defend the victory of World War II, resolutely defend the rights and interests of China, Russia and the vast number of developing countries, and promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, Xi said.

The two heads of state also received briefings from respective department leaders regarding bilateral cooperation across various sectors.

Xi pointed out that China and Russia should stick to the general course of cooperation and fend off external disruptions, so as to solidify the foundation for stable cooperation and ensure stronger momentum for progress.

They should leverage the resource endowments of both countries and the complementary advantages of their industrial systems to expand high-quality and mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, energy, agriculture, aerospace and artificial intelligence, he said.

He further suggested that the two countries should take the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union as a platform to build high-standard connectivity. The two countries should fully unleash the potential of the China-Russia Years of Culture, strengthen cooperation in education, film, tourism, sports and local areas, and deepen people-to-people ties.

Xi also proposed closer coordination and cooperation in multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS. He emphasized the need to unite the Global South, uphold true multilateralism, and guide global governance reform in the right direction.

Xi emphasized that China is comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization, with both the resolve and confidence to overcome all risks and challenges.

No matter how the external environment changes, China will firmly handle its own affairs, Xi said, adding that China stands ready to work with Russia to shoulder the special responsibilities bestowed by the times, safeguard the global multilateral trading system, keep industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded, and make greater contributions to the development and rejuvenation of both countries while upholding international fairness and justice.

(With input from Xinhua)