Chinese Premier Li Qiang spent two days in Moscow as a guest of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, with a high-level delegation and held discussions with Mishustin and with President Vladimir Putin. Li and Mishustin co-chaired their 29th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government. The two sides signed more than a dozen agreements, ranging from investment to transport cooperation, and the two countries reaffirmed the primacy of their relationship. Li Qiang was briefed fully on the situation in Ukraine and the Ukrainian incursion in Kursk. A major issue of discussion was overcoming the restrictions being placed on mutual payments because of the U.S. sanctions. It was also an attempt to reaffirm the agreements made by the two countries’ Presidents at their meeting three months ago in China.
In comments to the press, Mishustin said Russia-China relations acted as a “powerful stabilizing factor” and contributed to the growth of both economies. Over 95% of bilateral trade is now settled in either the ruble or yuan, with two-way volumes reaching a record high of 20 trillion rubles (1.6 trillion yuan) last year.
Li said that “China is ready to work with Russia to follow the strategic guidance of the two heads of state and take the opportunity of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties to uphold mutual respect, mutual trust, everlasting friendship and mutual benefit.”
