On December 15, 2021, President Xi Jinping held the second virtual meeting with President Vladimir Putin in the year. After the meeting, Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng gave an interview to the media and briefed on the meeting.

Le Yucheng said, today's video meeting is the 37th meeting between the two heads of state in eight years. Starting with refreshing friendship and wishing each other a happy new year, the two presidents had a one and a half hours talk in a very cordial and friendly atmosphere with simultaneous translation. They had an extensive and in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations, practical cooperation in various fields, and international strategic coordination and reached broad consensus, injecting strong impetus into the high-quality development of China-Russia relations in the new year. It is the strategic guidance of the two heads of state that has brought China-Russia relations to the current height. The two heads of state had frequent interactions over the years. They took the high-speed rail, watched an ice hockey game, and celebrated birthdays together, leaving stories of China-Russia friendship and forging a deep personal friendship. They had candid talks, coordinated their positions, and reached consensus at every meeting. President Xi Jinping and President Putin are truly good friends, old friends, and real friends.

Le Yucheng said that the two heads of state look forward to the "get-together for the Winter Olympics and the New Year". President Xi Jinping once again warmly welcomed President Putin to visit China for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games to be opened on February 4 next year. President Putin said he looks forward to attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games to showcase his support for China's hosting of the Games and Russia's consistent stance against politicizing sports. The Beijing Winter Olympic Games will coincide with the Chinese New Year. President Putin, during his upcoming visit to China, will celebrate the Games and the Chinese New Year with the Chinese people. It will be the first "face-to-face" meeting between the two heads of state since the outbreak of COVID-19, which is of great and special significance. At present, relevant staff of the two countries are carefully preparing for the Summit to be held in February. The two heads of state will issue important outcomes documents and sign a series of cooperation documents by then. They announced that China and Russia will hold the Year of Sports Exchange in the next two years. With 550 events, it will be the eighth national-level celebration of a specific theme between China and Russia. The two sides will turn the Year of Sports Exchange into a bridge and bond for greater mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

Le Yucheng said that the two heads of state comprehensively summarized bilateral relations of this year and expressed their satisfaction with the cooperation outcomes. They both believe that the China-Russia relationship is at its best in history and will achieve new progress at a higher starting point, in a wider scope, and at a deeper level.

This year serves as a crucial transitional stage of China-Russia relations. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation in June this year, the two heads of state decided to extend the Treaty and add new connotations of the times. President Xi Jinping pointed that the combined forces of changes in the world and the COVID-19 pandemic, both unseen in a century, have taken the world into a phase of turbulence and transformation. China-Russia relations have emerged from all kinds of tests to demonstrate new vitality. President Putin said that the Russia-China relationship, with a high degree of strategic mutual trust, has set an example for delivering mutual benefit and win-win results on the basis of non-interference in each other's internal affairs and mutual respect for each other's interests. It can be hailed as a model of state-to-state relations in the 21st century. The two sides have extended firm mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests, thus defending the national dignity and common interests of both countries. The concept of "enduring friendship and win-win cooperation" has been carried forward and gained greater popularity.

This year also witnesses fruitful and practical cooperation between China and Russia. The two heads of state pointed out that bilateral trade in the first 11 months of this year exceeded 130 billion U.S. dollars, hitting a new record in history. The China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation has been a great success, and over 1,000 cooperation projects in the field of scientific and technological innovation have been carried out. A number of major projects with strategic importance have been successfully implemented. Smooth progress is being made in synergizing the Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union. The two countries have continued to deepen cooperation in the energy field, covering oil, gas, coal, electricity, nuclear and the whole industrial chain of upstream, midstream and downstream sectors. In addition, Russia largely increased its energy supply to China. The two sides have actively worked together in COVID-19 response and vaccine research and production and jointly opposed the politicization of the pandemic. China-Russia cooperation has become more practical, down-to-earth, and beneficial to the people. The fruits of bilateral cooperation are now enjoyed by the common public. More Chinese families are using Russian natural gas and having poultry and beef products from Russia on their dining tables. During the Fourth China International Import Expo, Russian candies and ice-creams were sold out within seconds. It gave the Chinese customers more choices for their grocery and snack shopping and a pleasant surprise for Russian enterprises of "over 4-million-yuan profit within seconds". More than half of Russian smartphone buyers choose Chinese brands, such as Huawei and Xiaomi. The two heads of state believe that there are enormous political advantages and great opportunities in the all-round practical cooperation between China and Russia, and are willing to further deepen bilateral cooperation in various fields.

This year also sees deepened strategic collaboration between China and Russia. The two heads of state reaffirmed the resolution of the two countries to safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order underpinned by international law, oppose unilateralism, power politics and ideological disputes, uphold international justice and fairness, and promote democracy in international relations. President Xi Jinping stressed that democracy is a lofty aspiration and common value of all humanity and also a right enjoyed by people of all countries. Whether a country is democratic or not and how to better realize democracy can only be left to its own people to decide. International affairs should be managed by all countries through consultation. Promoting greater democracy in international relations and upholding true multilateralism is the expectation of the people and the prevailing trend of the times. China is ready to enhance communication and coordination with Russia to encourage the international community to take the right view on democracy, defend the legitimate democratic rights of all countries, and reject hegemonic acts and the Cold War mentality under the disguise of "multilateralism" and "rules". President Putin said that Russia will be the staunchest supporter of the Chinese government's legitimate position on Taiwan-related issues, and firmly oppose moves by any force to undermine China's interests using Taiwan-related issues. President Putin pointed out that the strategic coordination between Russia and China has served as a major positive factor in effectively resolving all sorts of international hotspots and in safeguarding world peace, playing an important role in maintaining the international order underpinned by international law. Russia firmly opposes any type of "small group" in the Asia-Pacific region. No attempt to sow discord between Russia and China will ever succeed. Russia stands ready to work with China to continue deepening close coordination in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the UN Security Council, and other multilateral arenas, and will support China's BRICS presidency next year. Russia firmly rejects attempts to meddle in the internal affairs of Russia and China and to contain the legitimate development interests of the two countries. Russia is committed to upholding international fairness and justice and to maintaining strategic security and stability in the world. Russia is ready for more communication with China on defending true democratic rights and interests of all countries.

Le Yucheng said that the two heads of state have made plans and expectations for the further development of China-Russia relations. In 2022, the Communist Party of China will host its 20th National Congress while Russia will enter an important stage in implementing its National Development Goals by 2030. The two sides will continue to follow the "four-point agreement on showing firm support for each other", bring development opportunities to one another and serve as each other's strategic anchor. The two sides will continue to promote sustained high-quality development of China-Russia relations at a high level to set an example of a major-country relationship that features the highest degree of mutual trust, the highest level of coordination, and the highest strategic value, making greater contributions to fostering a new type of international relations and building a community with a shared future for mankind.