Putin, Xi determined to turn border to belt of eternal peace
2 Min Read
During the virtual summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have discussed bilateral relations and common Sino-Russian issues.
-
Russian President Vladimir Putin in a videoconference summit with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on December 15, 2021 (Reuters)
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping had a summit via videoconference on Wednesday to discuss several urgent bilateral and international issues.
President Putin hailed the model Sino-Russian relations and told President Xi a "new model of cooperation has been formed between our countries," which he asserted includes a "determination to turn our common border into a belt of eternal peace and good-neighborliness."
"I consider these relations to be a real model for inter-state cooperation in the 21st century," the Russian leader said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said during the online meeting, "You have resolutely opposed attempts to undermine relations between our countries. I highly appreciate this."
Xi also said that he is looking forward to the next face-to-face meeting with Putin.
"I expect you to visit China in a month, as well as take part in the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. I look forward to our Olympic meeting with you," Xi told Putin.
"In February we will finally be able to meet in person in Beijing," Putin said in a national television broadcast of the conversation after he said he would attend the Games.
Putin underlined that Moscow and Beijing would celebrate 2022 and 2023 as the Russian and Chinese Years of Cooperation in Physical Education and Sports.
"All in all, given the large scale of cooperation between our countries, we will need to discuss a wide range of pressing matters today. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you and all our Chinese friends a happy new year. I wish you happiness, good health, and all the best," President Putin concluded.
Russia had previously responded to the western attempts to boycott the Beijing Olympics by saying, "The Olympic games should be free of politics."
The Kremlin also criticized the US for announcing the diplomatic boycott.
China and Russia had previously announced that this meeting was taking place between the two heads of state today, saying they would discuss a wide array of issues.
