Putin and Xi Jinping Begin Summit, Address Each Other as "Comrade"

Xi Jinping, President of China (left), and Vladimir Putin, President of Russia (right) Photo by Yonhap News

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping began a summit meeting at the Kremlin in Russia on the morning of May 8 (local time). This is the third time the two leaders have met this year, following a virtual summit in January and a phone call in February.

According to TASS, RIA Novosti, and AFP, President Putin and President Xi met and exchanged greetings in the Georgievsky Hall of the Kremlin in Moscow before starting their talks. President Putin referred to President Xi as his "dear comrade," and President Xi responded by calling President Putin his "longtime comrade," demonstrating their close relationship.

President Xi is on a four-day state visit to Russia, beginning the day before, to mark the 80th anniversary of Russia's Victory Day in World War II (Victory Day) on May 9. President Putin stated, "Together with our Chinese friends, we will firmly uphold the historical truth and memory of the wartime period and respond to modern manifestations of neo-Nazism and militarism."

President Xi said, "In the face of the international backlash of unilateralism and hegemonic bullying, China will shoulder special responsibilities together with Russia as major world powers." President Putin proposed that the two leaders discuss the full range of bilateral relations during President Xi's state visit. He also expressed his gratitude for President Xi's visit, emphasizing, "This means a lot to us." He added that "the relationship between Russia and China is mutually beneficial and is developing for the benefit of both peoples, not to confront other countries."

President Putin thanked President Xi for inviting him to the 80th anniversary ceremony of China's victory in the War of Resistance against Japan (September 3), saying, "I am pleased to make another official visit to our friendly China during this period."