Xi calls for consolidating Sino-Russian partnership in energy

President Xi Jinping has expressed China's commitment to working with Russia to consolidate the countries' comprehensive energy partnership and jointly safeguard the stability and smooth flow of global energy industrial and supply chains.

Xi made the remarks on Tuesday in a congratulatory message sent to the 7th China-Russia Energy Business Forum in Beijing, which brought together around 400 participants from both countries, including representatives of major energy companies.

Noting that China-Russia energy cooperation got off to an early start and has a solid foundation, Xi said it serves as a model of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides, playing a positive role in promoting the economic and social development of both countries and the well-being of the two peoples.

He expressed China's readiness to work with Russia to promote the establishment of a more fair, just, balanced and inclusive global energy governance system, and inject greater stability into world energy security and into the green and low-carbon transition.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also sent a congratulatory letter to the forum.

Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang read out Xi's message at the opening of the forum. He said the fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee has made strategic plans for the country to expand high-standard opening-up and build an energy powerhouse, offering new significant opportunities for China-Russia energy cooperation.

China is willing to work with Russia to further implement the important consensuses reached by the two heads of state, continuously deepen strategic coordination in the energy sector, and consistently create new prospects for win-win cooperation, he said.

Ding underlined the need for both countries to strengthen cooperation across the entire industrial chain in the energy sector and ensure the safe and stable operation of cross-border energy corridors to facilitate energy trade.

He called for enhancing bilateral cooperation in energy transition and development, actively exploring application scenarios, and tapping into the potential for cooperation in renewable energy.

It is essential for both countries to bolster multilateral collaboration and jointly promote the implementation of the Global Governance Initiative in the energy sector, in order to inject more stability and certainty into the global energy market, Ding said.

The forum has been held annually since 2018. This year's forum is themed "strengthening high-level strategic alignment between China and Russia to continuously consolidate the comprehensive energy partnership".

Bilateral trade amounted to $244.8 billion in 2024, with energy cooperation deepening continuously, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

caodesheng@chinadaily.com.cn