People's Daily Promotes Higher-Level China-Russia Partnership Ahead of Putin's Visit

(Central News Agency, Shanghai, May 18, by reporter Liao Wen-chi) As Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit China from the 19th to the 20th, Chinese state media People's Daily published an article today stating the intention to push the China-Russia "comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era" to stand higher, walk more steadily, and go further. Following U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to China, Putin will pay a state visit to China from the 19th to the 20th. A Kremlin statement noted that during his visit, Putin will discuss with Xi Jinping how to "further strengthen the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Moscow and Beijing." The People's Daily article today pointed out that China and Russia are "comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era" and also "fellow travelers" on the path of development and revitalization. Currently, "China-Russia relations are at their best period in history, setting a model for major power relations featuring permanent good-neighborliness, comprehensive strategic coordination, and mutually beneficial cooperation for a win-win outcome." The article states that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the "Sino-Russian Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation." The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has maintained high-level development, with fruitful results in various fields of cooperation. The article notes that in 2025, the heads of state of both countries attended commemorative celebrations for the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War held in each other's countries. In the new era, high-level exchanges between the two countries have been frequent. Not only has the practice of annual mutual visits by heads of state been formed, but they have also established comprehensive communication and cooperation mechanisms, including regular meetings between prime ministers, a parliamentary cooperation committee, and mechanisms in fields such as energy, investment, humanities, economy and trade, local affairs, strategic security, and law enforcement security. The political mutual trust between the two sides has continuously deepened, with firm mutual support on issues involving core interests such as sovereignty, security, and development. The article also cites examples such as the full implementation of the visa-free policy between China and Russia in 2025 and the expanded scale of the 10th China-Russia Expo, showcasing Sino-Russian friendship. According to the latest data released by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, in 2025, Sino-Russian trade reached $227.9 billion, exceeding the $200 billion mark for the third consecutive year, and China has remained Russia's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. In the first four months of this year, bilateral trade between China and Russia reached $85.241 billion, an increase of 19.7% year-on-year. The article also states that as the world undergoes accelerated changes unseen in a century, the more turbulent the situation, the more prominent the mature, stable, and resilient nature of China-Russia relations becomes, and the more highlighted the necessity for both sides to strengthen strategic coordination and all-round cooperation. Both sides maintain close communication and coordination within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, and the G20, jointly committed to enhancing the representation and voice of developing countries in global governance. The article concludes by stating, "China and Russia are good neighbors that cannot be moved, true friends who share weal and woe, support each other, and develop together." Upholding the spirit of permanent good-neighborliness, mutually beneficial cooperation for a win-win outcome, and comprehensive strategic coordination, China and Russia will work together to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, and injecting "Sino-Russian momentum" into the construction of an equal and orderly multipolar world and an inclusive and beneficial economic globalization. In contrast to the "comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era" between China and Russia, during Trump's recent visit to China, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the construction of a "constructive and stable strategic relationship between China and the United States" as a new positioning for Sino-U.S. relations. (Editor: Chen Kai-yu) 1150518