China, Russia find right way for neighboring major countries to get along with each other: Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China and Russia have found the right way for neighboring major countries to get along with each other, which features non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kazan. The Chinese president arrived in the Russian city earlier in the day for the 16th BRICS Summit.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, Xi said that over the past years, the relationship between the two countries has weathered challenges.

Both sides, upholding the spirit of lasting good-neighborliness and friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination, and mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, have continuously deepened and expanded their comprehensive strategic coordination and practical cooperation across various fields, Xi said.

This has injected strong momentum into the development, revitalization, and modernization of both nations and made important contributions to enhancing the well-being of the Chinese and Russian people and upholding international fairness and justice, Xi said.

Noting that the world today is facing momentous transformations unseen in a century, resulting in a fast-changing and turbulent international landscape, Xi expressed confidence that the profound and lasting friendship between China and Russia will not change, nor will their sense of responsibility as major countries for the world and for the people.

Despite complex and severe external challenges, bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade continues to advance, and large-scale joint projects remain stable in operation, Xi said, adding that both countries should further promote the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union to support their respective high-quality economic development.

Next year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, Xi stressed.

China and Russia, both permanent members of the UN Security Council and major countries in the world, should deepen comprehensive strategic coordination, strengthen communication and coordination within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, promote a correct view of World War II history, firmly uphold the UN-centered international system, and jointly safeguard global strategic stability and international fairness and justice, Xi said.

The BRICS mechanism is the world's most important platform for solidarity and cooperation between emerging markets and developing countries, Xi said, adding that China highly commends Russia's great efforts as BRICS chair.

Xi voiced expectation of having in-depth discussions with leaders participating in the upcoming summit on the future development of the BRICS mechanism to build consensus among the parties, send a positive message of solidarity and cooperation, and advance strategic coordination and practical cooperation within BRICS in various fields, so as to secure more opportunities for the Global South.

For his part, Putin said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties between Russia and China 75 years ago, the two countries have developed into comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for the new era, with bilateral relations maintaining high-level growth and forging a model for a new type of relationship between major countries.

Thanks to joint efforts from both sides, the Russia-China cooperation, based on equality, mutual respect, and mutual benefit, continues to advance, and the activities of the Russia-China Years of Culture have been successfully held, he said, adding that Russia stands ready to further deepen cooperation with China and boost the development and revitalization of both countries.

Noting that next year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Putin said that both Russia and China made tremendous sacrifices for victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, and that Russia is willing to commemorate this important milestone together with China.

Russia is also ready to maintain close high-level exchanges and strategic communication and coordination with China in international affairs, and work with China to uphold international fairness and justice as well as global strategic stability, he added.

Putin thanked China for its support during Russia's presidency of BRICS, stressing that Russia is ready to closely cooperate with China to ensure the success of the first BRICS Summit after its expansion, driving positive outcomes in greater BRICS cooperation.

The two heads of state also made in-depth exchange of views on major international and regional issues of common concern.

China, Russia find right way for neighboring major countries to get along with each other: Xi

China, Russia find right way for neighboring major countries to get along with each other: Xi

China, Russia find right way for neighboring major countries to get along with each other: Xi

China, Russia find right way for neighboring major countries to get along with each other: Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping's New Year message delivered on the New Year Eve has drawn positive responses from scholars and former officials from several countries, who say that the series of global initiatives proposed by Xi have provided fresh momentum for multilateralism and shared development at a time of growing uncertainty.

While the reactions touched on the broader vision outlined in Xi's New Year message, they also focused on the initiatives Xi has put forward over recent years, particularly the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the newly proposed Global Governance Initiative.

Highlighting the significant importance of these initiatives, they have emphasized the need for equality, inclusiveness and a fairer international order.

"We need a more just international order and a truly multilateral system. China stands almost alone today as a global force actively advancing genuine multilateralism. Therefore, these initiatives are most welcome," said Michael Schumann, chairman of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade.

Former Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab has placed the emphasis on dialogue and trust-building between civilizations.

"It is essential now more than ever to promote communication and understanding between China and the world to enhance cultural exchanges and build mutual trust. As President Xi has repeatedly emphasized, China supports principles of unity, inclusiveness and peacefulness. These values should guide our collective efforts to build bridges rather than walls," he said.

From a governance perspective, Russian scholar Ekaterina Zaklyazminskaya, head of the Center for World Politics and Strategic Analysis at the Institute of China and Modern Asia under the Russian Academy of Sciences, has viewed the Global Governance Initiative as a structured response to global challenges.

"The recently proposed Global Governance Initiative presents a comprehensive framework of ideas. It prioritizes establishing a more just international order, champions multilateralism, and upholds the principle of 'people first.' Through its concrete practices, financial assistance, and tangible support for multilateral bodies like the U.N., China has demonstrated that its commitments are substantive. China is taking tangible steps toward a fairer and more reasonable global governance system," she said.

Scholars from the Global South also have seen historical echoes in the initiatives.

"Some of the developed and developing countries have highly welcomed the Global Development Initiative, because this initiative emphasizes the need for partnerships -- partnerships that commit resources to end global poverty and pursue common and shared development. The Global Governance Initiative, in my view, echoes again the call that was made by Asian [and] African countries at the Bandung Conference in 1955 for equality, for mutual respect, for respect of territorial integrity, [and] for respect of sovereignty," said Bongani Maimele, director of international relations at South Africa's National School of Government.

"These initiatives are revolutionary in nature. They are reshaping the political philosophy of global governance. Today's world is far more complex than it was 80 years ago, and interdependence among nations has deepened. Therefore, we need new philosophical perspectives to examine our world and new models of engagement to foster a new type of international relations," said Sheradil Baktygulov, director of Kyrgyzstan's Institute of World Policy.

Int'l scholars praise Xi's initiatives, call for stronger multilateralism