Presidents meet, witness pacts signed on forum sidelines in Russia

President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday that regardless of changes in the international situation, the two countries will firmly develop bilateral relations and safeguard global peace and stability.

The two presidents held talks and jointly met with the press on the sidelines of the fourth Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia. It was the first time Xi attended the forum, which was proposed by Putin in 2015.

China and Russia signed a number of cooperation documents, witnessed by the two presidents, covering such areas as finance, investment, sports, media and local government exchanges.

The two leaders agreed that the Sino-Russian relationship has entered a new period of higher-level and faster development.

Xi noted that he had already met with Putin in Beijing and Johannesburg this year, with fruitful outcomes achieved. The frequent exchanges show the high level and special quality of bilateral ties, he said.

With joint efforts made by the two sides, the political advantages of bilateral relations have been translated into practical outcomes, Xi said.

Xi called on the two sides to strengthen their traditional friendship, enhance comprehensive coordination, push bilateral ties to higher level and benefit the people of both countries.

Xi stressed that the two countries should deepen coordination of the Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union, expand cooperation in energy, agriculture, scientific innovation and finance, and jointly enhance development of high technologies.

The two countries should take the opportunity of the Year for China-Russia Local Government Exchanges — both this year and next — to enhance local-level cooperation, Xi said.

It's a good tradition for China and Russia to support major events hosted by either side, Xi said, adding that the forum, proposed by Putin, has become an important platform to gather wisdom from all sides and discuss regional cooperation.

Xi said the two countries should take responsibility for safeguarding global peace and promoting prosperity.

Both countries should enhance coordination under multilateral frameworks including the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, jointly safeguard global justice and peace, oppose unilateralism and trade protectionism, and promote building a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.

Putin expressed gratitude and welcomed Xi's attendance at the forum, saying that the frequent meetings between the two leaders showed the high level of Russia-China ties.

The two sides should continue to boost synergy between the Eurasian Economic Union and the BRI, enhance cooperation in investment, energy, aerospace, finance and e-commerce, and boost people-to-people exchanges while promoting local government cooperation, Putin said.

Putin said the two nations should enhance coordination in global affairs, resist unilateralism, safeguard global order and work to achieve common development.