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Chinese President Xi Jinping said he is ready to “push for continuous new progress” in bilateral relations with Russia, according to a message exchanged with Russian President Vladimir Putin to mark the New Year.
Xi made the remarks during an exchange of New Year greetings with Putin, China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday.
In his message, Xi said 2025 “marks a concrete step in the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era,” highlighting the importance of continued cooperation between the two countries.
Xi’s remarks came after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s opposition to “any form of independence” for Taiwan.
In comments published Sunday by the Russian state news agency TASS, Lavrov said Russia’s position on the Taiwan issue is “well-known, unchangeable, and has been repeatedly reaffirmed at the highest level.”
Lavrov said Russia recognizes Taiwan as an integral part of China and opposes any form of independence for the island.
He added that Moscow considers the Taiwan issue an internal matter of the People’s Republic of China and said Beijing has legitimate grounds to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The statements were made amid rising tensions between China and Japan following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Nov. 7.
Takaichi said a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan could legally constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, a scenario that could allow Tokyo to exercise the right of collective self-defense.
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