中俄会晤 2026：30 年的伙伴关系

Russian President Putin's special plane

landed in Beijing.

This was a state visit.

The dates were May 19 to 20.

A state visit

is, between two countries,

the highest-level kind of official exchange.

For Putin,

coming to China is actually nothing new.

This time

was his 25th visit to China.

25 times.

This number itself

shows the density of China-Russia relations.

Today let's talk properly

about this China-Russia summit.

First the background.

2026,

for China-Russia relations,

is a year with commemorative meaning.

First,

this year is the 30th anniversary of China and Russia establishing a strategic coordination partnership.

Second,

this year is the 25th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.

What is a "treaty"?

A treaty is, between two countries,

formally written down,

signed,

a long-term valid agreement.

In 2001,

China and Russia signed this Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.

It wrote down many things:

the two countries won't go to war,

will discuss matters when they arise,

will cooperate in many areas.

At this summit,

the two heads of state agreed unanimously:

this treaty

will continue to be extended.

That is to say,

this agreement from 25 years ago

will keep going forward.

On the morning of May 20,

Xi Jinping and Putin

held talks at Beijing's Great Hall of the People.

After the talks,

the two countries signed and issued an important joint statement.

The name is long,

but the core meaning is:

to further strengthen comprehensive strategic coordination,

to deepen good-neighborly and friendly cooperation.

At the same time,

the two countries also witnessed the signing of 20 cooperation documents.

These documents

cover trade, education, science and technology, and many other areas.

Besides this one,

the two countries also issued another joint statement.

This one

is about "world multipolarity" and "a new type of international relations."

We need to explain these two terms.

"Multipolarity"

means:

the world should not have only one "pole,"

should not be decided by one country.

There should be many centers of power.

This sentence,

to put it bluntly,

is said for America to hear.

China and Russia both believe:

in today's world,

America's power is too great, too concentrated.

They hope the world will become "multipolar."

"A new type of international relations"

means:

between country and country,

there should be mutual respect and equal cooperation,

rather than one country controlling another.

These words

are what China and Russia have been saying for years.

On the evening of May 20,

the two leaders had a tea gathering at the Great Hall of the People.

A "tea gathering"

is a more relaxed way than formal talks.

Sit down,

drink tea,

chat slowly.

This arrangement

is itself a signal:

the two countries want to show

that their relationship is not just a "working relationship,"

but also has "personal friendship."

During the visit,

the two countries also attended the opening ceremony of the "China-Russia Education Year" together.

Putin also met separately

with China's Premier Li Qiang

to talk about trade cooperation.

Up to here,

we've finished covering the content of the summit.

But,

the meaning of this summit

is not just these documents.

I want to make three points.

First point,

about China-Russia relations themselves.

China and Russia, in recent years,

are often described with one word:

"back to back."

It means:

the two countries stand together,

back to back,

neither has to worry about being stabbed from behind by the other.

This kind of relationship

is not an "alliance" in the traditional sense.

China and Russia both emphasize:

we are non-aligned.

That is to say,

we don't sign that kind of treaty where "if one side has trouble,

the other side must send troops."

But on many big matters,

the two countries support each other.

In trade,

China-Russia trade volume

has kept rising in recent years.

Russia sells China oil and natural gas.

China sells Russia cars, machinery, and all kinds of industrial goods.

Especially after the Russia-Ukraine war,

with Russia sanctioned by the West,

China became Russia's most important economic partner.

Second point,

about the "timing" of this summit.

This summit

happened at a special time.

The war between Russia and Ukraine

has been going on for several years.

Russia and Western countries

have very tense relations.

Against this background,

Putin coming to China

and standing together with Xi Jinping

is itself a strong signal:

"I have not been isolated.

"I still have China.

For China,

this matter is more complicated.

On one hand,

China and Russia

really are important partners.

On the other hand,

China also needs to do business with Europe

and with many Western countries.

China has always emphasized:

on the Russia-Ukraine issue,

China is neutral,

China urges peace.

So you'll see

China's official language is very careful:

China-Russia cooperation "does not target any third party."

It means:

the two of us being close

is not in order to deal with someone else.

Third point,

about how we should view this matter.

International news

most easily makes people pick just one side.

Some people see the China-Russia summit

and say:

"Good,

"two big countries together,

"confronting the West.

And some people say:

"China shouldn't get this close to Russia.

But if you want to truly understand international relations,

you have to learn one thing:

between countries,

there are no permanent friends,

and no permanent enemies.

There are only long-term interests.

This sentence

was said by a British statesman two hundred years ago.

It's still true today.

China and Russia are close now

because right now,

standing together is good for both countries.

America and Russia are distant now

also because right now,

their interests conflict.

What will it be like in twenty years?

Nobody knows.

Relations between countries

do change.

Finally,

I want to ask you a question:

If you were the leader of a country,

who would you choose to be friends with?

A country that thinks the same as you?

Or a country that is useful to you?

Think about it.

Okay.

That's all for today.

Talk tomorrow.