As President Xi Jinping gears up for a state visit to Russia from May 7 to 10, the two nations are poised to write the next chapter in their robust cooperation story. From 156 Soviet-assisted projects in the 1950s to today, the partnership continues to deepen across trade, technology and culture.
A Record-Breaking Economic Partnership
In 2024, bilateral trade between the two nations reached a record 244.8 billion dollars, a 1.9 percent increase year on year, according to data from the Chinese mainland’s General Administration of Customs. Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui notes that over 95 percent of transactions now settle in national currencies, reducing reliance on third parties and streamlining commerce.
Pragmatic Cooperation in Emerging Sectors
“There is enormous potential in further deepening our economic and trade ties,” says Oleg Timofeev, associate professor at RUDN University. Beyond energy and aerospace, collaboration is expanding into the digital economy, biomedicine and green development—sectors that promise innovation and sustainable growth.
Cultural Currents and Campus Connections
2024 marks the start of the designated China-Russia Years of Culture, with hundreds of joint exhibitions, film screenings and academic exchanges scheduled. Educational ties flourish too: more than 200 Russian universities offer courses in the Chinese language to around 90,000 students, while over 40,000 students from the Chinese mainland are pursuing studies in Russia.
Uniting for a Multipolar World
The Chinese Foreign Ministry highlights that this visit underscores a shared commitment to multilateralism. As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and Russia plan closer coordination in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, rallying the Global South to shape a more equitable global order.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko sees the visit as a chance to inject fresh momentum into global governance, while Aleksey Rodionov of St. Petersburg State University says this partnership is pivotal to a stable multipolar world.
The Road Ahead
With high-level talks on the horizon, the world will watch as China and Russia build on a relationship that has evolved from Cold War initiatives to a multifaceted alliance—one set to influence trade, culture and diplomacy for years to come.
Reference(s):
China, Russia forge new chapter in cooperation amid global changes
cgtn.com
