Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia and China jointly oppose 'discriminatory' sanctions in global trade that hinder socio-economic development.

In a written interview with China's official Xinhua news agency, published on the eve of his four-day visit to China, Putin emphasized the continuous efforts to reduce mutual trade barriers.

The Russian leader will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit.

The Kremlin has described this visit as 'unprecedented,' highlighting the significance of the economic cooperation between the two countries.

Despite global tensions, particularly due to Russia's war in Ukraine, Putin expressed a desire to reverse the slowdown in bilateral trade.

The record $245 billion trade volume reached in 2024 demonstrates China's support for Russia through the purchase of goods and oil.

Putin and Xi declared their strategic partnership as 'no limits' in 2022, following over 40 meetings between them in the past decade.

This visit aims to further explore the prospects of mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and China.