Chinese Premier Vows to Deepen 'All-Round' Cooperation with Russia on Security and Economy

China and Russia are strengthening cooperation in security and economic fields, further developing relations between the two countries. Both countries have agreed to expand the scope of economic and security cooperation through summit talks.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin held a regular meeting of heads of government in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China on November 3, where they had in-depth discussions on ways to promote cooperation between the two countries. At the meeting, Premier Li Qiang emphasized that China is "ready to strengthen cooperation in all fields for mutual development and security interests," expressing the Chinese government's commitment to active cooperation.

In response, Prime Minister Mishustin acknowledged that "relations between the two countries are developing at the highest level," assessing the positive development trend of bilateral relations. He particularly emphasized that China is Russia's largest trading partner, noting that the proportion of dollars and euros in trade between the two countries has significantly decreased. This is interpreted as indicating an acceleration of de-dollarization in the trade settlement system between the two countries.

Prime Minister Mishustin announced at the meeting that, following instructions from Russian President Vladimir Putin, measures are being prepared to allow visa-free entry for Chinese citizens. This measure is expected to expand people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and revitalize the tourism industry. It is also expected to have a positive impact on promoting mutual understanding between the peoples of both countries.

At the meeting, the two prime ministers signed a total of eight cooperation documents covering a wide range of fields, including humanitarian affairs, investment, energy, transportation, agriculture, and media. These are assessed as concrete measures to broaden the horizons of cooperation between the two countries and strengthen practical cooperation. In particular, cooperation in the energy sector is expected to play an important role in securing a stable supply chain of Russian energy resources and strengthening China's energy security.

In addition, the two countries agreed on a cooperation roadmap in the field of satellite navigation from 2026 to 2030, expanding cooperation in future technology fields. Satellite navigation systems are a core technology that plays an important role in various fields, including military, economic, and scientific. Therefore, cooperation between the two countries in the field of satellite navigation is expected to strengthen technological competitiveness and contribute to leading future industries.

The Russian government is pursuing a strategy to increase its resilience to Western economic sanctions and secure new growth engines by strengthening cooperation with China. China is also interpreted as intending to strengthen its strategic partnership with Russia to enhance energy security and counter the containment efforts of the United States.

On November 4, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping to further discuss cooperation plans between the two countries. At this meeting, in-depth discussions are expected to take place on the future development direction of bilateral relations and major cooperation projects. This meeting and the ensuing high-level talks are assessed as a prime example of the increasingly close relationship between China and Russia.

This China-Russia heads of government meeting is significant in that it confirmed the comprehensive strengthening of cooperation between the two countries and presented the direction of future cooperation. The two countries are expected to expand cooperation in various fields, including economy, security, and technology, and exert a stronger influence in the international community.

The development of relations between China and Russia is likely to have a significant impact on the international political landscape. The cooperation between the two countries can be interpreted as a process of seeking a new balance in international relations.

Based on the results of this meeting, the Chinese Foreign Ministry plans to promote specific cooperation projects and further deepen its strategic partnership with Russia. While the next official schedule has not yet been announced, high-level exchanges between the two countries are expected to continue.