Published on: 2026-05-19
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –
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General overview
In 1996, China and Russia established strategic interaction and partnership relations. In 2001, the “Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation” (hereinafter referred to as the Treaty) was signed. In 2011, the relations were elevated to the level of comprehensive strategic interaction and partnership, based on equality, mutual trust, mutual support, joint prosperity and friendship, passed down from generation to generation. In 2019, they were elevated to the level of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction, entering a new era.In 2021, in honor of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Agreement, the heads of the two states published a joint statement officially announcing the extension of the Agreement’s validity period.
Currently, Chinese-Russian relations are experiencing the best period in their history. The countries maintain close contacts at a high level, with a practice established of annual mutual visits by heads of state. NPC Chairman Xi Jinping visited Russia or participated in events on its territory in March and September 2013, February 2014, May and July 2015, July 2017, September 2018, June 2019, March 2023, October 2024, and May 2025.Russian President Vladimir Putin visited China or participated in events on the territory of China in May and November 2014, September 2015, June and September 2016, May and September 2017, June 2018, April 2019, February 2022, October 2023, May 2024, as well as in August and September 2025.A well-established mechanism of contacts and cooperation operates between the two countries, including regular meetings of heads of governments, the Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, as well as mechanisms for interaction in the fields of energy, investment, humanitarian exchanges, economy and trade, interregional cooperation, strategic security, law enforcement activities, and other areas. Political trust between the parties is steadily strengthened, and China and Russia consistently provide each other with firm support on issues concerning sovereignty, security, development, and other fundamental interests.
Trade and economic relations
The process of active coordination of the joint construction of the “Belt and Road” and the Eurasian Economic Union, practical cooperation brings rich results. In 2024, the volume of bilateral trade between China and Russia reached 244 billion 819 million US dollars, increasing by 1.9% compared to the previous year. From January to October 2025, the volume of bilateral trade amounted to 183 billion 244 million US dollars, decreasing by 9.5% year-on-year.
Humanitarian exchanges
Humanitarian exchanges between the two countries are developing dynamically, mutual understanding and friendship between peoples are steadily deepening, the idea of friendship from generation to generation has deeply taken root in people’s hearts. China and Russia have consistently held the following cross years: in 2006-2007 — Years of National Cultures, in 2009-2010 — Years of Languages, in 2012-2013 — Years of Tourism, in 2014-2015 — Years of Youth Exchanges, in 2016-2017 — Years of Media Exchanges, in 2018-2019 — Years of Interregional Cooperation, in 2020-2021 — Years of Scientific and Technological Innovation, in 2022-2023 — Years of Sports Exchanges, in 2024-2025 — Years of Culture.
Interregional cooperation
As of November 2025, 172 pairs of twin towns (including provinces and regions) have been established between the two countries, as well as several dozen pairs of provinces and regions linked by trade and economic cooperation.The Councils on Interregional Cooperation in the format “Volga-Yangtze” have been established between provinces and autonomous regions in the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and regions of the Volga Federal District; the Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation and Development between Northeast China and the Russian Far East; as well as the Council on Interregional Cooperation within the framework of the China-Russia Committee on Friendship, Peace, and Development, acting as a mechanism for regular meetings in border regions.
International cooperation
China and Russia support close strategic coordination in international and regional affairs and adhere to genuine multilateralism, jointly promoting the establishment of an international order in a fairer and more reasonable direction. The two countries hold coinciding or similar positions on a number of important international and regional issues, maintain close contacts and cooperation. They have jointly contributed to the creation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the formation of cooperation mechanisms such as BRICS, “Russia-India-China” (RIC), and “China-Russia-Mongolia”.China and Russia carry out effective coordination within the framework of multilateral mechanisms, including the UN, the “Group of Twenty” (G20), BRICS, SCO, APEC, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), and others.
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