China-Russia ties more stable, mature amid complex international landscape: Global Times editorial

25/02/2025

By Global Times

Feb 25, 2025

Chinese President Xi Jinping took a phone call from Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday afternoon. During the call, President Xi reaffirmed that China-Russia relationship is neither targeted at any third party nor affected by any third party, noting “both countries have long-term development strategies and foreign policies.” President Putin said that developing relations with China is a strategic choice made by Russia with a view to the long term; it is not an act of expediency, not affected by any temporary incidents, and not subject to interference by external factors. Under the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, China-Russia relations are set to become more mature, resilient, and dynamic – this is a certainty and will contribute to greater stability in the world.

This is the second phone call between the two heads of state this year. The Kremlin described the long conversation as warm and friendly. Regular strategic exchanges between the two leaders have become a norm, reflecting the strategic, reliable, and stable nature of China-Russia cooperation.

Guided by head-of-state diplomacy, various departments of both countries are steadily advancing cooperation in multiple fields in line with the consensus reached by the two leaders. This includes commemorative events for the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people’s war of resistance against Japanese aggression and the world anti-fascist war.

Additionally, with 2025 designated as the “China Year” in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), China and Russia will maintain close communication and cooperation across vital multilateral platforms, including the SCO, further enriching and enhancing the depth of their collaboration.

Many Western analyses have noted that this call coincided with the third anniversary of the outbreak of Russia-Ukraine conflict and a phase of US-Russia diplomatic detente, interpreting the call within this context. Some even speculated that China might feel uneasy about recent US-Russia interactions regarding the Ukraine crisis. However, such perspectives underestimate China-Russia relations, still viewing them through the outdated Cold War mentality without grasping the essence of the new paradigm of major country relations between China and Russia.

China-Russia cooperation is open, constructive, and mutually beneficial – it does not target or exclude any country. For instance, through the synergy between China’s jointly built Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), both countries have not only promoted regional economic integration but also created tangible development opportunities for countries in the cooperation. This cooperative model stands in stark contrast to the exclusive alliances and geopolitical maneuvering often seen in the West.

The China-Russia relationship, with its core spirit of permanent good-neighborly friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination and mutually beneficial cooperation, has successfully forged a new path.

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