Xi and Putin, the helmsmen of China-Russia friend 'ship'

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01:50

Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to roll out the red carpet for Chinese President Xi Jinping Wednesday, as Xi will embark on a three-day state visit to Russia and participate in the 23rd St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

This will be the second meeting between Xi and Putin in recent weeks since the Russian leader visited Beijing in late April.

The Chinese president once described Putin as his "best friend" and "confidant," and Putin called Xi a "reliable partner and good friend." And their tight-knit relationship is expected to lead the bilateral relationship to another highlight moment this June.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) holds talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2019. /Xinhua Photo

The 'firsts' Xi and Putin make

From the Kremlin to Beijing, Sochi to Xiamen, Bali to Da Nang, from bilateral ties to the global situation, from trade cooperation to cultural exchanges, Xi and Putin have met over 20 times over the past five years and made lots of "firsts."

In March 2013, Xi chose Russia as his first destination to visit after he was elected as president, opening up a new chapter in the Sino-Russian relationship. Putin accompanied Xi for eight hours and Xi became the first foreign leader to visit the Russian military command center in Moscow.

In 2018, Putin began the new presidential term and also picked China as his first stop for foreign visits.

In the spring of 2014, Xi's appearance at the Sochi Olympics opening ceremony was the first attendance by a Chinese president at a major overseas sports event. Xi said he came to Russia to offer his congratulations in person as is customary for Chinese people to do upon their neighbors' joyous occasions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Russia, February 6, 2014. /Xinhua Photo

The year 2015 marked the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War as well as the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany. Xi and Putin respectively attended their commemorative activities.

The honors Xi and Putin award each other

This April, President Xi awarded Putin an honorary doctorate at Tsinghua University in Beijing, saying Putin is "a good friend and old friend of the Chinese people, and has made historic contributions to deepening political mutual trust between China and Russia and promoting bilateral cooperation in various fields."

President Xi presented the first Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to Putin last June in Beijing.

The Friendship Medal. /Xinhua Photo

The Friendship Medal, China's highest state honor for foreigners, represents the Chinese people's profound respect for Putin and symbolizes the deep friendship between the two great nations, Xi stressed.

Putin is the first foreign national who has been awarded since the establishment of China's honors system, according to Xi.

While visiting Russia in July, 2017, Xi was awarded by Putin the highest order of Russia, known as the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) is awarded by his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, the highest order of Russia, after their talks in Moscow, July 4, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called is awarded to prominent statesmen and public figures and representatives of science, culture, the arts and various industries for their exceptional services in promoting the prosperity, greatness and glory of Russia. The order can also be awarded to foreign heads of state for outstanding services to Russia.

"This is evidence of our recognition of your special services to the development of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between our states and also to the strengthening of friendship between our nations," Putin said.

Good partners in practical cooperation

Under the leadership and guidance of Xi and Putin, bilateral cooperation has yielded fruitful and tangible results in vast areas in recent years.

China-Russia trade exceeded 100 billion U.S. dollars last year, setting a new record in history, said Chinese Ambassador to Russia Li Hui in an interview with Xinhua News Agency.

Bilateral cooperation in energy, aeronautics and astronautics and infrastructure has been consolidated, Li said, adding that cooperation in the high-tech field, agricultural product trade, e-commerce and finance has created new growth points, and bilateral trade structure has seen continuous optimization.

The Chinese part of the China-Russia railway bridge linking Tongjiang in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province with Nizhneleninskoye in Russia, October 13, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

In May 2015, Xi and Putin signed a joint declaration on cooperation in linking the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), drawing a new blueprint at a strategic level for the development of bilateral relations.

And some landmark practical cooperation projects, namely the China-Russia east-route natural gas pipeline, China-Russia Tongjiang Railway Bridge and a cross-border highway bridge, will be completed this year.

In recent years, bilateral cultural exchanges have kept moving forward, and the two countries have held such state-level activities as the Year of Tourism, the China-Russia Youth Friendly Exchange Year, the China-Russia Media Exchange Year, and the year of China-Russia local cooperation and exchange, which have greatly promoted mutual understanding between the two peoples.

In 2018, Chinese tourists made 1.8 million trips to Russia while Russian travelers made nearly 2 million trips to China, said Li, adding that the two countries have become major sources of tourists and travel destinations for each other.