Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and stressed China's readiness to deepen political mutual trust and strengthen common interests with Russia.
Ding conveyed sincere greetings from President Xi Jinping and recalled his recent visit to Russia, during which the two presidents held strategic talks and charted the future course of Sino-Russian relations.
Ding underlined the importance of Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin's leadership in ensuring stability and certainty in times of global uncertainties. He assured that China intends to expand trade and investment with Russia, strengthen energy cooperation and promote mutual development and reconstruction.
At the same time, the Chinese Vice Premier called on the two countries to maintain comprehensive strategic coordination, uphold international justice, promote a WTO-based multilateral trading system, stabilize supply chains, and deepen multilateral cooperation through platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS. These steps are intended to contribute to the creation of a more equal and orderly multipolar world and inclusive globalisation.
President Putin described Russian-Chinese relations as "unprecedentedly strong" and welcomed Ding's presence at the forum. He said he looked forward to deepening practical cooperation. He also said that he plans to visit China during the upcoming SCO Summit in Tianjin and the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the resistance against Japanese aggression and in the World Anti-Fascist War.