Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a video address on Tuesday, May 19. He spoke directly to the public just before leaving for his state visit to China. During his speech, Putin announced that relations between Russia and China now sit at a truly unprecedented level. He plans to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his scheduled trip, which runs from May 19 to May 20. The Russian leader wants to use this time to strengthen the political and economic bonds connecting the two massive nations.
Putin highlighted how often leaders from both countries meet and talk. He believes these regular visits play an incredibly important role in their shared success. When the top leaders sit down for serious talks, they easily unlock the limitless potential of their partnership. The two governments share a unique atmosphere of deep mutual understanding and absolute trust. They always support each other when dealing with matters of core national interest. This includes standing together to protect their state unity and national sovereignty against outside pressure.
The relationship rests on a very old and solid foundation. Exactly 25 years ago, Russia and China signed a historic document called the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. Putin reminded everyone that this specific treaty created a genuine strategic partnership. The agreement brought massive benefits to both countries and helped millions of ordinary people. Over the past 2.5 decades, the two neighboring governments have learned to conduct respectful dialogue and pursue fully fair, win-win cooperation.
Today, officials in Moscow and Beijing are actively expanding their contacts across many fields. They push for closer ties in national politics, global economics, and basic human rights. Putin promised that he and his team are doing everything possible to deepen this bilateral collaboration. These exact issues will dominate the daily agenda when Putin and Xi sit down for their upcoming talks in Beijing. The Russian president greatly appreciates Xi’s commitment to this long-term, friendly cooperation.
The economic numbers tell a story of massive financial growth. Putin proudly noted that trade between Russia and China continues to grow every single month. The total trade volume recently surpassed the $200 billion mark. Instead of using Western money to buy and sell goods, the two countries completely changed their financial system. Today, they conduct almost 100% of their mutual settlements in Russian rubles and Chinese yuan. This major financial shift helps protect both economies from outside sanctions and global market shocks.
Beyond money and politics, the two leaders want their citizens to understand each other better. Putin praised the highly successful Russia-China Years of Culture program. Building on that success, the two governments officially launched the Russia-China Years of Education this past January. This new educational focus marks the 10th time the two countries have launched a massive bilateral project focused on humanitarian and cultural exchange. Putin expressed his deep respect for China’s centuries-old history. He highly values Chinese achievements in science, art, and classical culture.
Making travel easier remains a top priority for both governments. Putin warmly welcomed the recent introduction of a mutual visa-free travel regime. This new rule allows ordinary citizens to cross the border without having to file expensive, time-consuming paperwork. The Russian president explained that this simple change creates a massive boost for local businesses and everyday tourism. It opens up exciting new opportunities for direct communication. Thousands of Russian and Chinese nationals now enjoy regular, face-to-face personal contacts every week.
On the global stage, Putin stressed that this close strategic relationship plays a major role in maintaining global stability. He made sure to clarify their military and political goals. The Russian leader insisted that Moscow and Beijing do not form alliances simply to fight against other countries. Instead, he claimed that the two nations only seek global peace and universal financial prosperity. They want to create a fair world where every single country has a fair chance to grow and succeed without interference.
To achieve this global peace, Russia and China coordinate their actions very carefully. Putin stated that both capitals work together to defend international law. They strictly follow the rules and provisions written in the United Nations Charter. The two governments also support active cooperation through several powerful multilateral groups. They routinely use the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the BRICS group to solve pressing regional challenges. These organizations represent billions of people and give non-Western countries a much louder voice in global affairs.
Putin concluded his video address with a message of strong hope and total confidence. He feels certain that the warm and friendly ties between the two countries allow them to make bold plans for the future. The Russian leader promised to do everything possible to maintain this good-neighborly dynamic. He believes that pushing for dynamic development will secure the well-being of the people living in both nations. As he packs his bags for Beijing, Putin remains fully focused on maintaining global security and ensuring long-term stability.
