Meeting between Xi and Putin at the Winter Olympics opens a new chapter in China-Russia relations.

247 - China is celebrating the Chinese New Year under the global gaze as it hosts the Winter Olympics. Adding to the festive atmosphere is the scheduled visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his participation in the opening ceremony of the major sporting event, reports Xinhua.

Almost three years after Putin's last visit to China, the trip will mark the 38th meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Russian president since 2013.

Xi said he is very much looking forward to this "meeting for the Winter Olympics" and is ready to work with Putin "for a shared future" to jointly open a new chapter in post-Covid China-Russia relations.

In 2014, Xi attended the opening ceremony of the 22nd Winter Olympic Games held in the Russian city of Sochi, marking the first time a Chinese head of state had attended the opening ceremony of a major sporting event held abroad.

During his talks with Putin, the Chinese president said he went to Russia to personally congratulate him, as is customary for the Chinese people to do on joyous occasions of their neighbors.

Eight years later, although the pandemic has hampered exchanges between the countries, the "meeting for the Winter Olympic Games" between the two leaders will take place in Beijing. It will not only be the first in-person meeting between the heads of state of the two countries in about two years, but also a major event in international relations at the start of this year.

Prior to the visit, Putin expressed on several occasions his confidence in China's success as host of the sporting event.

"There is every reason to believe that the Beijing Games will be held at a high level and will be part of the world Olympic family's gold record," Putin said during a virtual meeting with Russian athletes.

From Sochi to Beijing, the exchange of visits by the two presidents to the Winter Olympic Games will vividly demonstrate the mutual support between China and Russia for hosting major events or celebrations, as also exemplified by Xi's presence at the Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square and Putin's participation in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

These frequent exchanges are also a testament to the sincere friendship between the two leaders, as well as between the two countries.

In 2017, Putin awarded Xi the highest honor in Russia, the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, the First-Called. A year later, Xi awarded Putin the first Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China.

This growing friendship is not blossoming accidentally, but has been nurtured by the two leaders' shared perspective on the importance of bilateral ties and international issues.

"We share similar views on the international landscape and approaches to national governance," Xi said in an interview with Russian media. "More importantly, we share a high degree of consensus on the strategic significance of the China-Russia relationship and, therefore, the same determination and desire to deepen and sustain its growth."

The China-Russia relationship today has the highest degree of mutual trust, the highest level of coordination, and the highest strategic value, spearheaded by the two heads of state.

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