By The South Asia Times

BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Wednesday to further extend the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation during high-level talks in Beijing, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.

The two leaders met at the Great Hall of the People as Putin continued his state visit to China, which included a welcome ceremony and the signing of a joint statement aimed at deepening what both countries described as their comprehensive strategic partnership.

According to Xinhua, Xi said this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the friendship treaty between the two nations.

Xi said bilateral ties had strengthened steadily through deepening political trust, expanding economic cooperation and close strategic coordination on international affairs.

“As permanent members of the UN Security Council and important major countries in the world, China and Russia should take a strategic and long-term perspective,” Xi said, calling for higher-quality strategic coordination between the two countries.

The Chinese leader said cooperation in trade, investment, energy, science and technology, transportation and people-to-people exchanges had continued to expand, adding that the relationship had entered “a new stage of greater achievements and faster development.”

Xi also urged both sides to strengthen coordination within multilateral frameworks including the United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

He said China and Russia should jointly safeguard the post-World War II international order, support the Global South and promote reforms to global governance institutions.

Putin described relations with China as reaching an “unprecedented level,” marked by close high-level exchanges and growing political mutual trust.

He said bilateral cooperation had expanded steadily in areas including trade, energy supply, transportation, logistics and technology, while cultural and people-to-people exchanges were also deepening.

“Russia-China relations have withstood tests and grown stronger over time, becoming a paradigm of comprehensive strategic coordination,” Putin said, according to Xinhua.

The Russian president added that the friendship treaty remained highly relevant under current global conditions and pledged to work with China to further strengthen strategic coordination and practical cooperation.

Putin also voiced support for China hosting the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and called for stronger coordination within the SCO and BRICS frameworks.

The Beijing talks come as both countries seek to deepen cooperation amid ongoing tensions with the West over issues including the war in Ukraine, global trade disputes and shifting geopolitical alliances.