Xinhua News Agency, Moscow, August 30th Title: Remembering the common history and working together to achieve prosperity between Russia and China - Interview with Russian President Putin

Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Xiaoguang and Liu Kai

Russian President Putin said in a written exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency reporters on the eve of the SCO Tianjin Summit, the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, that he would jointly commemorate the 80th anniversary of the great victory with China and discuss in-depth discussions on new prospects and new measures for mutually beneficial cooperation to benefit the people of Russia and China. Russia and China will continue to work together to strive for the prosperity of the two great nations of Russia and China.

Image of Russian President Putin. Xinhua News Agency (Photo provided by the Russian Presidential News Agency)

Putin recalled that Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia in May this year was a complete success, which caused widespread international response and won the highest praise in Russia. During this visit, Russia and China passed a detailed joint statement and signed a package of bilateral documents.

"This visit is of far-reaching symbolic significance to the development of Russia-China relations. We confirm the strategic choice of the people of the two countries to strengthen the tradition of good-neighborliness, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation in the long term," Putin said.

Putin pointed out that at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, he will visit China to explore in-depth aspects of the bilateral agenda with President Xi Jinping, and exchange views on important regional and international issues. Russia highly appreciates President Xi Jinping's sincere hope to comprehensively develop a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation with Russia.

He stressed that President Xi Jinping highly valued his own history. "He is a true leader of a world power, a firm leader with strategic thinking and global vision, always putting national interests first. At a time of complex changes in the international situation, it is crucial for China to be helmed by such a leader."

Putin pointed out that his trip to China will work with China to commemorate the great achievements of his father and grandfather, and to commemorate the martyrs who used their blood to forge the brotherly friendship of comrades and soldiers of the two peoples and defend the national freedom, independence and independent development rights.

He stressed that the Soviet Union and the Chinese people were the first to bear the brunt and suffered the most heavy and largest casualties in the war. "The people of our two countries have made great sacrifices in the fight against the invaders and played a key role in defeating Nazism and militarism. These cruel tests clearly demonstrate and consolidate the fine tradition of friendship and mutual assistance between the two countries, laying a solid foundation for modern Russia-China relations."

"Russia will never forget that it was China's heroic resistance that became one of the decisive factors that prevented Japan from attacking the Soviet Union from 1941 to 1942 and stabbing us in the back. Those years were very difficult times for us." Putin said, "This allowed the Soviet Red Army to concentrate its efforts to defeat Nazi Germany and liberate Europe." He also pointed out that when Japan treacherously provoked an armed conflict with China, the Soviet Union extended a helping hand to the Chinese people. Soviet pilots also fought side by side with Chinese comrades and bravely fought against the invaders.

Putin said it is our responsibility to always remember those compatriots who demonstrate true patriotism and courage, withstand all tests, and overcome powerful and cruel enemies. Russia thanks China for carefully preserving the Soviet Red Army soldiers memorial facilities that sacrificed their lives in the battle.

Putin stressed that in some Western countries, the results of World War II are being tampered with. The historical truth is being distorted and concealed to cater to the political situation. Russia and China firmly condemn any attempt to distort the history of World War II, and the results of war that have been included in the UN Charter and other international instruments are unshakable and any tampering is unacceptable.

Speaking of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, Putin pointed out that Russia-China economic relations have reached an unprecedented high level. Since 2021, trade volume has increased by about US$100 billion. In terms of the scale of bilateral trade, China is undoubtedly Russia's largest trading partner, and among China's trading partners, Russia ranked fifth last year. Settlement between the two countries has almost completely shifted to local currencies.

Putin said Russia is firmly at the forefront of exporting oil and natural gas to China; the two sides continue to work hard to reduce mutual trade barriers, and Russia has achieved pork and beef exports to China in recent years. Food and agricultural products have become one of the main categories of goods exported by Russia to China; the scale of bilateral investment has expanded, and large-scale cooperation projects in key areas are being implemented; the two countries have carried out close cooperation in the industrial field. Russia is one of the main markets for Chinese automobile exports to the world. The two sides are jointly building high-tech production facilities and infrastructure projects, and have also formulated a grand cooperation plan in the field of building materials industry.

"Economic cooperation, trade exchanges and industrial cooperation between our two countries are being promoted in many fields. During my upcoming visit, the two sides will conduct in-depth discussions on new prospects and new measures for mutually beneficial cooperation to benefit the people of Russia and China," Putin said.

Putin pointed out that the extensive development of bilateral cultural exchanges and cooperation has made important contributions to promoting the development of friendly relations between the two countries. At present, Russia-China cultural exchanges continue to flourish. The two sides are steadily implementing the "Russia-China Cultural Cooperation Roadmap before 2030", which includes more than 100 large-scale projects.

Putin said that the "Russia-China Cultural Year" event was successfully held from 2024 to 2025. The colorful event arrangements have aroused the warmest social response in both countries.

Putin stressed that the two countries have broad prospects for cooperation in the fields of education and science. At present, academic exchanges between the two sides and cooperation among universities are showing a good development trend. Today, there are more than 51,000 Chinese students studying in Russia and 21,000 Russian students in China. Cooperation in the field of scientific and technological innovation is constantly expanding, cooperation in the field of sports has achieved remarkable results, and cooperation in the field of film production is actively advancing. The data in this important field of tourism is encouraging: in 2024, the two-way tourism passenger flow increased by 1.5 times to 2.8 million. In addition, the two sides have also promoted cooperation in areas such as youth, media, and archives.

"Happily, bilateral cultural cooperation is constantly deepening and expanding. This is undoubtedly a strategic direction in the relationship between the two countries, and it is conducive to building a broad social foundation for good neighborly and friendship and mutual understanding between Russia and China." Putin said.

China is the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization from 2024 to 2025. In 2025, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit will be held in Tianjin. Putin expects that after the Tianjin summit, the organization will gain stronger development momentum, enhance its ability to respond to current challenges and threats, and enhance unity in Eurasian space. "All of this will help build a more just multipolar world order."

Putin pointed out that the secret of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization being so attractive is simple - stick to the original intention of founding, welcome equal cooperation, not targeting third countries, and respecting national and national characteristics.

"Based on these values, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is participating in the construction of a more just multipolar world order, which is based on international law and plays the coordinated role of the United Nations Center. The formation of an equal and indivisible security framework in the Eurasian continent, including through close cooperation among the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, is a significant contribution to the achievement of this global goal," Putin said.

Putin believes that the Tianjin Summit will become an important milestone in the history of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. He said that Russia supports China's priorities as the rotating presidency to further strengthen internal solidarity within the SCO, deepen all-round cooperation, and enhance its role on the international stage.

"I look forward to the joint efforts of all countries to inject new vitality into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and its modernization to adapt to the requirements of the times," Putin said.

Putin highly praised Russia and China's cooperation under the multilateral framework. He stressed that this is an important part of bilateral relations and is undoubtedly an important factor in global politics. The exchange of opinions on key international issues has repeatedly proved that Russia and China have broad common interests and have similar views on matters of principle.

He said that Russia-China strategic coordination plays a ballast role. The issues regarding current challenges and threats always exist in bilateral political dialogue. Russia’s conceptual proposal to build an equal and indivisible unified security space in Eurasia echoes the global security initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping.

Putin pointed out that Russia and China's cooperation on the United Nations platform has reached an unprecedented level, which is fully in line with the spirit of the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries. The two countries attach particular importance to their work in the Defence of the Friends of the United Nations Charter, an important tool to unite the Global South. "Russia and China support reforming the United Nations to fully restore its authority, which is in line with contemporary reality," Putin said.

Putin said that close cooperation between Russia and China has brought positive changes to the work of major economic platforms such as the G20 and the APEC. "This year, the G20 is led by our South African friends. We look forward to confirming the achievements made by the Global South by the end of its term and using it as a starting point for democratizing international relations. Within the APEC framework, China's host in 2026 will inject new impetus into Russia-China relations."

Putin said that within the framework of the BRICS countries, Russia and China actively cooperate to jointly promote initiatives aimed at expanding member economic development opportunities, including establishing a common partnership platform in key areas. The two countries attach particular importance to attracting more funds for the implementation of important infrastructure projects, and jointly advocate further enhancing the role of BRICS countries in solving international and regional hot issues. Russia and China jointly oppose discriminatory sanctions in world trade, which hinder the socio-economic development of BRICS member states and the world as a whole.

Putin pointed out that Russia and China jointly support the reforms of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The two sides agreed that the new financial system should be built on the principles of openness and true equity, ensuring that all countries use their tools equally and without discrimination without exception, reflecting the actual position of member states in the world economy.

"We must move forward to benefit all mankind. I believe that Russia and China will continue to work together to achieve this lofty goal and work together for the prosperity of our great nation," Putin said.