China, Russia to continue adhering to non-alignment principle: Beijing
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Chinese President Xi Jinping says new historic opportunities and broader prospects await China and Russia.
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In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin and China's President Xi Jinping attend a concert marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and China and opening of China-Russia Years of Culture at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on May 16, 2024. (AFP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin was in the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin on Friday, the final day of a visit aiming to enhance the economic relationship between the two countries.
Putin arrived Thursday on his first trip abroad since his March re-election, meeting with President Xi Jinping for talks in which the leaders described their nations' ties as a stabilizing force in a chaotic world.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine and the imposition of Western sanctions on Russia, its trade with China boomed, hitting $240 billion in 2023, according to Chinese customs figures.
Lying just a few hundred kilometers from the border with Russia, the city has long served as a key hub for cross-border trade and cultural exchange.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of a Russia-China trade expo on Friday, Putin hailed energy ties between the two countries and promised to "strengthen" them.
"Russia is ready and able to continuously power the Chinese economy, businesses, cities and towns with affordable and environmentally clean energy," he said.
"As the world is on the threshold of the next technological revolution, we are determined to consistently deepen bilateral co-operation in the field of high technologies and innovations," he added.
In a news conference following his visit, Putin said that China and Russia have their own views on the ways of national development that focus on the principles of constructiveness and peace, stressing that the emerging multipolar world should be enhanced.
On his part, Xi pointed out that the future is bright for China-Russia relations, adding that "new historic opportunities and broader prospects await" the two countries.
"Through joint efforts, Sino-Russian relations are steadily moving forward little by little. The results of our cooperation are benefiting the peoples of our countries," the Chinese leader said.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry affirmed that Beijing and Moscow support each other in protecting sovereignty and security, as well as in resisting external interference.
In a statement following Putin's visit, the ministry underlined that China and Russia will continue to adhere to the principle of non-alignment with blocs and enhance mutual political trust.
Read more: Putin open to dialogue on Ukraine, praises Chinese efforts : Xinhua
