Overview

• Putin said Xi told him in a private conversation that China welcomes the restoration and normalization of Russia–US relations and would help if possible, a claim not independently confirmed by Beijing or Washington.
• The remarks were delivered on October 2 at the Valdai forum plenary in Sochi and reported by Russian state media.
• Putin described Xi as his friend and said they have very trusting personal relations.
• He said his recent visit to China covered a wide agenda, including economic ties as well as cooperation in humanitarian, cultural, and educational fields.
• Putin added that some of Xi’s global governance initiatives align closely with Russia’s concepts of Eurasian security and invoked a shared historical spirit of alliance.