习近平会见俄罗斯总统普京

新华社莫斯科3月20日电（记者郝薇薇 石昊）当地时间3月20日下午，刚刚抵达莫斯科的国家主席习近平应约在克里姆林宫会见俄罗斯总统普京。

习近平抵达时，克里姆林宫司令在下车处迎接。普京总统同习近平热情握手并合影。两位元首就中俄关系及共同关心的问题进行了深入、坦诚的交流。

习近平指出，很高兴应普京总统邀请，再次对俄罗斯进行国事访问。十年前我就任国家主席后首次出访就选择了俄罗斯，至今记忆犹新。十年来，我同普京总统保持了密切联系。无论是我在中共二十大上连任中共中央总书记，还是前不久再次当选中国国家主席，你都第一时间给我发来贺电，我深表感谢。俄罗斯明年将举行总统选举。在你坚强领导下，俄罗斯发展振兴取得长足进展。我坚信，俄罗斯人民一定会继续给予你坚定支持。

习近平强调，中俄关系发展到今天，有其深刻的历史逻辑。作为最大邻国和全面战略协作伙伴，中俄关系在各自外交全局和对外政策中都占据优先地位。中国历来奉行独立自主的外交政策。把中俄关系巩固好、发展好，是中方基于自身根本利益和世界发展大势作出的战略抉择。中方同俄方加强战略协作的大方向坚定不移。中俄都致力于实现国家发展振兴，都支持世界多极化，都推动国际关系民主化。双方要进一步深化各领域务实合作，加强在联合国等多边平台的协调配合，助力各自国家发展振兴，做世界和平稳定的中流砥柱。

普京热烈欢迎习近平对俄罗斯进行国事访问，对习近平连任中国国家主席再次表示热烈祝贺。普京表示，过去十年来，中国各方面发展都取得令世人瞩目的伟大成就，这归功于习近平主席的卓越领导，也证明了中国国家制度和治理体系的优越。我坚信，在习近平主席坚强领导下，中国必将继续发展繁荣，顺利实现各项既定宏伟目标。在双方共同努力下，近年来俄中关系在各领域都取得了丰硕成果。俄方愿同中方继续深化双边务实合作，加强在国际事务中的沟通协作，推动世界多极化和国际关系民主化进程。

双方就乌克兰问题深入交换意见。习近平强调，在乌克兰问题上，和平、理性的声音在不断积聚，大多数国家都支持缓和紧张局势，主张劝和促谈，反对火上浇油。历史上看，冲突最后都需要通过对话和谈判解决。不久前，中方专门发表了立场文件，呼吁政治解决乌克兰危机，反对冷战思维，反对单边制裁。我们认为，越是困难重重，越要为和平留下空间；越是矛盾尖锐，越不能放弃对话努力。中方愿继续为推动政治解决乌克兰问题发挥建设性作用。

普京表示，俄方赞赏中方在重大国际问题上一贯秉持公正、客观、平衡立场，主持公平正义。俄方认真研究了中方关于政治解决乌克兰问题的立场文件，对和谈持开放态度，欢迎中方为此发挥建设性作用。

两国元首表示，期待明天再次会谈，规划未来一个时期中俄全面战略协作伙伴关系新蓝图。

Xi meets Putin in Moscow

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, at the Kremlin on his arrival in Moscow on Monday.

When Xi reached the Kremlin, he was greeted by the Kremlin Commandant at the alighting point. Putin warmly shook hands and took photos with Xi. The two presidents had an in-depth and candid exchange on China-Russia relations and issues of mutual interest.

Xi noted that he was pleased to pay another state visit to Russia at the invitation of Putin, adding that Russia was the first country he visited after he was elected president 10 years ago and memories from that visit remain fresh today.

Xi said that over the past 10 years, he and Putin have stayed in close touch, and expressed his appreciation to Putin for immediately sending him congratulatory messages on his reelection as general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) by the 20th CPC National Congress and on his reelection not long ago as Chinese president.

He noted that Russia will hold the presidential election next year, and under Putin's strong leadership, Russia has made good progress in development and rejuvenation. Xi said he is confident that the Russian people will continue to give firm support to Putin.

Xi stressed that there is a profound historical logic for China-Russia relationship to reach where it is today. China and Russia are each other's biggest neighbor and comprehensive strategic partner of coordination. Both countries see their relationship as a high priority in their overall diplomacy and policy on external affairs.

China always upholds an independent foreign policy. To consolidate and develop well China-Russia relations is a strategic choice China has made on the basis of its own fundamental interests and the prevailing trends of the world, said Xi.

China is firm in keeping to the general direction of strengthening strategic coordination with Russia, Xi said, adding that both China and Russia are committed to realizing national development and rejuvenation, support world multi-polarity and work for greater democracy in international relations.

Xi said the two countries should further deepen practical cooperation in various fields and strengthen coordination and collaboration on multilateral platforms such as the UN to boost their respective national development and rejuvenation, and be a bulwark for world peace and stability.

Putin extended a warm welcome to Xi for his state visit to Russia and once again warmly congratulated him on his reelection as Chinese president.

Putin said that in the past 10 years China has made impressive and great achievements in all areas of development. This is attributable to the outstanding leadership of Xi and proves the strength of China's national political system and governance system.

Putin said he is confident that under Xi's strong leadership, China will definitely continue to develop and prosper and successfully realize all the great goals that have been set.

With concerted efforts by both sides, Russia-China relations in recent years have delivered fruitful results in various areas, Putin said, adding that Russia stands ready to continue to deepen bilateral practical cooperation, step up communication and collaboration in international affairs, and promote world multi-polarity and greater democracy in international relations.

The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine issue.

Xi stressed that, on the Ukraine issue, voices for peace and rationality are building. Most countries support easing tensions, stand for peace talks, and are against adding fuel to the fire. A review of history shows that conflicts in the end have to be settled through dialogue and negotiation.

China released a document on its position on the Ukraine crisis, advocating the political settlement of the crisis and rejecting the Cold War mentality and unilateral sanctions, said Xi.

China believes that the more difficulties there are, the greater the need to keep space for peace. The more acute the problem is, the more important it is not to give up efforts for dialogue. China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting the political settlement of the Ukraine issue, said Xi.

For his part, Putin said that Russia appreciates China for consistently upholding an impartial, objective, and balanced position and standing for fairness and justice on major international issues. Russia has carefully studied China's position paper on the political settlement of the Ukraine issue and is open to talks for peace. Russia welcomes China to play a constructive role in this regard.

The two presidents said that they look forward to formal talks on the next day to draw up a new blueprint for China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the years to come.