Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets Russian President Putin in St Petersburg
In short
Chinese Premier Li Qiang met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on the afternoon of 21 October. Li said China is ready to strengthen strategic communication and cooperation with Russia, including in energy, trade and transport. Putin said China is Russia's closest and most reliable partner and voiced support for China hosting this year's APEC informal leaders' meeting.
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Chinese Premier of the State Council Li Qiang met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on the afternoon of 21 October, according to CLS, Jiemian, Yicai and China News Service. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Li began by conveying greetings and good wishes from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Putin. According to the account carried by CLS, Jiemian and China News Service, Li said that amid a continuously complex international situation, China and Russia maintain close coordination and are a rare stable force in a world of turmoil. He said the two heads of state have met twice this year and made further plans to deepen relations and cooperation. Li said China is ready to strengthen strategic communication, consolidate political trust and expand mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Li said China is willing to make better use of the two economies' complementarity, keep up the current good momentum of cooperation, and strengthen practical cooperation in energy and resources, trade and investment, and transport. He called for a successful "China-Russia Year of Education" and deeper exchanges in culture, tourism, sport and youth affairs. Li said unilateralism and hegemonism are rampant in the world today, and that China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Russia on major issues, work closely together in the SCO and BRICS, and unite more Global South forces. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Putin asked Li to pass his sincere greetings to Xi and wished the Communist Party of China's 20th Central Committee fifth plenary session success. He said he had met Xi several times this year and that they had reached new key consensus on advancing the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. Putin said the regular prime ministers' meeting mechanism has been in place for 30 years. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Putin said Russia-China relations are based on equal respect, mutual benefit and consideration of each other's concerns, and are not affected by changes in the international situation or by interference from third parties. He said China has been, is and will be Russia's closest and most reliable partner. Putin said Russia is ready to deepen practical cooperation with China in energy, agriculture, space, civil nuclear power, information technology, artificial intelligence and transport, to hold the "Russia-China Year of Education" successfully, and to expand cultural exchanges. He added that Russia supports China hosting this year's APEC informal leaders' meeting and chairing BRICS next year. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The accounts show both sides restating their cooperation priorities, including energy, trade, education and coordination in multilateral groups. The documents report no agreements signed at the meeting.
Key facts
- Premier of the State Council Li Qiang met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on the afternoon of 21 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Li conveyed greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Putin. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Li said the two heads of state have met twice this year and that China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Russia in energy and resources, trade and investment, and transport. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Li called for a successful "China-Russia Year of Education" and deeper exchanges in culture, tourism, sport and youth affairs. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Putin said China has been, is and will be Russia's closest and most reliable partner. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Putin said Russia is ready to deepen cooperation with China in energy, agriculture, space, civil nuclear power, information technology, artificial intelligence and transport. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Putin said Russia supports China hosting this year's APEC informal leaders' meeting and chairing BRICS next year. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Li Qiang met Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on the afternoon of 21 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Li said China and Russia keep close coordination and are a stable force in a world of turmoil, and said China wants to step up coordination with Russia in the SCO and BRICS. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Putin wished the Communist Party of China's 20th Central Committee fifth plenary session success. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether any agreements or documents were signed during the meeting. The articles describe the statements of the two leaders and do not mention any signed agreements.
- The full agenda and any other participants in the talks. The articles give only the remarks attributed to Li and Putin; Yicai's entry carries only a headline.