Xu Qinhua is the vice dean of the National Academy of Development and Strategy, executive dean of the Eurasian Research Institute, and professor at the School of International Studies, Renmin University of China. She was interviewed by the CGTN and the Washington Post during the visit of President Putin to China.

In Prof. Xu’s view, President Putin’s visit to China is full of implications to both two countries. Firstly is the fast increase of the trading volume. In his address at the opening of the Russia-China Expo in Harbin, Putin said “ he was proud of the results Russian-Chinese Economic ties ”. Within the latest several years, the trading has been far exceeding the 100 billion dollars to the 240 billion and there is still a large space for the trading to be expanded. The cooperation of trading has from the commodities spilled over to the productivity between two countries.

Secondly, the signal released by Putin’s address is Russia is very confident in the close collaboration with China. Such kind of confidence is also delivered in the first year activity of China-Russia Years of Culture. The two leaders of two countries have attended the opening ceremony. Prof. Xu pointed out, by the end of the year 2023, there are almost 12 thousand Russian students are studying in China, for example, in Renmin University there are Ph.D candidates, and 44 thousand Chinese students in Russia, there are 90 thousand Russian are learning Chinese now in primary, middle and high schools, also universities.

Thirdly, people-to-people exchange plays key role in bilateral relationship. In 2023, the number of Russian tourists to China reached 997,900. According to Russian statistics, the number of Chinese tourists coming to Russia during the same period was 477,000. China and Russia are important sources of tourists and tourist destinations for each other. The development of tourism cooperation will promote the development of the two countries in relevant fields, It plays an important role in consolidating the public support of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era.

In her interview with the Washington Post, Prof. Xu said from the visits of Chinese leader last year to the Washington D.C and recently to some European countries, together with the initiatives of GSI (Global Security Initiative), GDI (Global Development Initiative) and GCI (Global Civilization Initiative) proposed and emphasized, China has been searching for dealing with the international issues from the global perspective, which fits Chinese national interests to the largest. As the largest neighbour, Russia regards China as its most important diplomatic and collaborative partner now.