Putin says Russia-China friendship ‘not directed against anyone’ ahead of Beijing visit

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MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Tuesday that the flourishing relationship between Moscow and Beijing has reached an ‘unprecedented level’ and explicitly stressed that their bilateral friendship is ‘not directed against anyone’.

Speaking in a video address released ahead of his official state visit to China, Putin emphasized that the deeply rooted partnership is anchored entirely in mutual understanding, trust, and strong respect for each other's core interests, including sovereignty and state unity. The Russian leader is traveling to Beijing at the personal invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, whom he warmly described as a ‘long-time good friend’.

Putin highlighted that the two global powers have successfully forged a genuinely strategic relationship since signing the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation 25 years ago. He heavily praised their robust economic cooperation, revealing that annual bilateral trade has officially surpassed $200 billion. 

Crucially, Putin noted that commercial settlements between the two neighboring giants are now being conducted ‘almost entirely in rubles and yuan’. He also welcomed a newly introduced mutual visa-free regime aimed at accelerating tourism, business travel, and humanitarian exchanges.