On December 31, 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged New Year congratulatory messages.

On behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, Xi extended sincere congratulations and best wishes to President Putin and the Russian people. Xi noted that in 2023, in the face of profound changes unseen in a century and a turbulent international and regional landscape, China-Russia relations have always maintained sound and steady development and moved forward steadily along the right direction. Over the past year, we met twice in Moscow and Beijing, had candid exchanges on bilateral relations and major international and regional issues of mutual interest, and reached broad consensus. Under our joint guidance, the two sides have further deepened political mutual trust, drawn closer in strategic coordination, and made new achievements in mutually beneficial cooperation. The two-way trade volume between China and Russia reached the target of US$200 billion ahead of schedule, the Years of Sports Exchange came to a successful conclusion, and the material and public opinion foundations of bilateral relations have become more solid.

Xi pointed out that President Putin and I have jointly announced that the two sides will host the China-Russia Years of Culture in the next two years. We will also solemnly celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The journey of China-Russia relations over the past three quarters of a century shows that continuously consolidating and developing China-Russia relations featuring permanent good-neighborly friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination, and mutually beneficial cooperation and win-win results serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, meets the expectations of the international community, and conforms to the trend of the times. I am ready to maintain close exchanges with President Putin, take the opportunity of celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and hosting the China-Russia Years of Culture to guide the two countries in continuously enhancing mutual trust, expanding cooperation, and carrying forward friendship, so as to ensure that China-Russia relations advance steadily and sustainably along the right path.

President Putin extended heartfelt holiday congratulations to President Xi and wished the friendly Chinese people happiness and well-being. Putin said that in the year that is about to pass, we held two meetings, which injected strong impetus into the all-round development of the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. Bilateral economic and trade cooperation has flourished, with two-way trade breaking through the US$200 billion target ahead of schedule and setting a new record. The Russia-China Years of Sports Exchange were successfully held. The Russia-China Years of Culture are ready to be launched, and the two countries will soon celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. I believe that with the joint efforts of both sides, fruitful cooperation in various fields will achieve greater results, and cooperation within the frameworks of the United Nations, the G20, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the BRICS mechanism will also make new progress.

On the same day, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin exchanged New Year congratulatory messages. Li Qiang said that under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Putin, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has continued to develop in a sound and steady manner, and practical cooperation in various fields has been continuously deepened. China is ready to continue working with Russia to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strive for more practical cooperation outcomes, and inject new impetus into the development of bilateral relations. Mishustin said that in 2023, the 28th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government achieved fruitful results, and Russia is ready to maintain constructive communication with China and push bilateral cooperation to a higher level.