Xi, Putin pledge more coordination

He recounted the remarkable progress in pragmatic bilateral cooperation this year, which he said showcased strengths in both politics and opportunities.

In the first 11 months of this year, Sino-Russian trade reached a historic high of 843.41 billion yuan ($132.5 billion), a 24 percent year-on-year increase, and surpassed the level of 2020, according to the General Administration of Customs.

The virtual meeting, the 37th meeting between the two presidents since 2013, marked the culmination of intensive diplomatic interactions this year. In May, the two leaders jointly attended a launching ceremony of bilateral nuclear energy cooperation projects. In June, a virtual summit was held to extend a key treaty on good neighborliness and friendly cooperation, and the two leaders had a phone discussion in August.