Xi visits Russia to deepen ties, mark Victory Day anniversary

MOSCOW, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow on Wednesday evening for a state visit and attendance at the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War.

Xi's visit comes at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. During his stay, Xi is expected to have in-depth communication with Putin on bilateral relations and cooperation, as well as major international and regional issues of common concern.

DEEPEN GOOD NEIGHBORLY TIES

In a written statement upon his arrival, Xi said that China and Russia have found a right path of state-to-state interactions between neighboring major countries.

The two sides, as good neighbors that cannot be moved away, true friends who share weal and woe, and good partners of mutual achievement, have forged a spirit of strategic coordination for a new era, which features permanent good-neighborly friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination and mutually beneficial cooperation, he said.

The visit marks Xi's 11th trip to Russia since he became Chinese president. The two heads of state have met more than 40 times on various occasions over the years. Their close communication has provided strategic guidance for China-Russia relations to mature into a resilient and stable partnership characterized by deepened political trust, closer strategic alignment and sustained practical cooperation.

In 2024, two-way trade amounted to 244.8 billion U.S. dollars, making China the largest trading partner of Russia for 15 consecutive years. In December 2024, the China-Russia east-route natural gas pipeline was fully completed. Cooperation in emerging sectors such as the digital economy, e-commerce and green energy has been expanding.

The long-lasting friendship between the two neighbors has grown increasingly popular among the two peoples. The mutual visa exemption agreement for group tours has greatly facilitated cross-border travel and personnel exchanges. Hundreds of cultural events have been held in succession within the framework of the China-Russia Year of Culture.

On Wednesday, Xi extended congratulations to a China-Russia people-to-people and cultural exchange event commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War.

In his message, Xi said that 80 years ago, the Chinese people and the Russian people jointly made indelible historical contributions to the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and forged an unbreakable great friendship with blood, laying a solid foundation for the high-level development of bilateral relations.

Eighty years later, with joint efforts of both sides, China-Russia relations have demonstrated renewed vitality and forged a new model of major-country relations, he said.

CHERISH HISTORY

This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

In a signed article published in the Russian Gazette newspaper ahead of his arrival in Moscow, Xi urged the international community to uphold a correct historical perspective on World War II (WWII) and resolutely uphold the postwar international order.

He recalled that 10 years ago around this time, he came to Russia to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the victory. During that visit, he made a special arrangement to meet with 18 representatives of Russian veterans who endured the blood and fire of battlefields during the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War and the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

"Their unyielding resolve and indomitable bearing left an indelible impression on me," Xi wrote. "Heroes never perish; their noble spirit lives forever."

China and the Soviet Union, he said, served as the mainstay of resistance against Japanese militarism and German Nazism, making pivotal contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War.

"Any attempt to distort the historical truth of WWII, deny its victorious outcome, or defame the historic contribution of China and the Soviet Union is doomed to fail," Xi wrote.

This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the restoration of Taiwan. "Taiwan's restoration to China is a victorious outcome of WWII and an integral part of the postwar international order," noted Xi.

No matter how the situation on the Taiwan island evolves or what troubles external forces may make, the historical trend toward China's ultimate and inevitable reunification is unstoppable, he said.

Andrey Denisov, first deputy chair of Russia's Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs and former Russian ambassador to China, applauded Xi's notion of upholding a correct view of WWII history.

"Safeguarding the truth of historical memory and revisiting those moments that connect our two countries and peoples holds special significance," Denisov said.

Regretting a troubling trend of distorting the narrative of WWII, he emphasized that Russia and China will jointly oppose such misrepresentations.

The unity and cooperation between Russia and China, he added, form a powerful force in overcoming difficulties and challenges.

UPHOLD MULTILATERALISM

As the world is facing stiff headwinds from unilateralism, hegemonism, bullying and coercive practices, Xi emphasized the importance of multilateralism.

"The more turbulent and complex the international situation becomes, the more we must uphold and defend the authority of the UN," Xi wrote in his signed article.

The world needs justice, not hegemonism, Xi said, adding that history and reality have proven that to meet global challenges, it is important to uphold the vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit.

It is equally important to practice true multilateralism, accommodate the legitimate concerns of all parties and safeguard international norms and order, he said.

In the written statement upon his arrival, Xi said that China and Russia, both major countries of the world and permanent members of the UN Security Council, will join hands to safeguard the victorious outcome of WWII.

The two sides will firmly safeguard the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, resolutely oppose hegemonism and power politics, practice true multilateralism, and promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system, Xi said.

"The establishment of an international system with the United Nations at its core is not easy at all, and must be firmly maintained by all countries of the world," said Ekaterina Zaklyazminskaya, leading researcher at the Institute of China and Modern Asia at the Russian Academy of Sciences.

"Russia and China support genuine multilateralism, which is very important at this time," said the researcher.

The world is shifting irreversibly toward a multipolar order, with Russia and China playing essential roles in this transformation, said Alexey Rodionov, a professor of Chinese studies at St. Petersburg State University.

China maintains a balanced stance on international issues, and that is why more countries now regard the country as a key reference point in diplomacy and global policy, Rodionov said.