China and Russia Move “Hand in Hand,” Says Xi Jinping in New Year Greetings to Putin

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin exchanged New Year greetings on Tuesday, December 31, with Xi describing the two nations as moving forward "hand in hand," Xinhua  reported.

“China and Russia always move forward hand in hand along the right path of non-alliance, non-confrontation, and not targeting any third party,” Xi said.

Xi expressed his readiness to maintain close communication with Putin and uphold the overall trajectory of China-Russia cooperation.

He emphasized the importance of further strengthening and deepening the countries' enduring good-neighborly friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination, and mutually beneficial partnership.

At the beginning of December, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned US President-elect Donald Trump against pressuring Ukraine to accept a peace deal imposed by Russia. Rutte cautioned that such an agreement could leave the US vulnerable to significant threats from China, Iran, and North Korea.