On the afternoon of the month, local time, President Xi Jinping held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kazan Kremlin.

Xi Jinping pointed out that he was delighted to come to the ancient Russian city of Kazan at the invitation of President Putin to attend the 16th Summit of BRICS Leaders. This is also the third meeting between us this year. About a year ago, the "Tea Road of Ten Thousand Li" connecting the two countries passed through Kazan, delivering tea from the Wuyi Mountain region of China to thousands of households in Russia.

Earlier this month, I exchanged congratulatory messages with President Putin to jointly celebrate the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. Looking back on the journey we have traveled, the relationship between China and Russia has weathered storms and forged ahead, achieving a series of groundbreaking accomplishments, and exploring the correct way for neighboring major powers to interact, characterized by "non-alliance, non-confrontation, and non-targeting of third parties." Since the new era, President Putin and I have consistently attached great importance to and firmly steered the forward direction of China-Russia relations. Both sides uphold the spirit of permanent good-neighborliness and friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination, and mutually beneficial cooperation, continuously deepening and expanding comprehensive strategic coordination and practical cooperation in various fields, injecting strong momentum into the development and revitalization of both countries and their modernization efforts, and making significant contributions to enhancing the well-being of the peoples of China and Russia and upholding international fairness and justice. Currently, the world is experiencing unprecedented changes of a century, with the international situation complex and intertwined, but I am confident that the profound friendship between China and Russia that spans generations will not change, nor will the great power responsibility to benefit the people.

The BRICS cooperation mechanism is the most important platform for the unity and cooperation of emerging market countries and developing countries in today's world, and it is a pillar force driving the realization of an equal and orderly multipolar world and an inclusive and equitable economic globalization. Tomorrow, the BRICS Leaders' Meeting will be held, marking the first summit since the expansion of BRICS, which holds significant importance for promoting "Greater BRICS Cooperation." As the chair country, Russia has done a substantial amount of work, for which China gives high praise. I look forward to engaging in in-depth discussions with President and leaders of various countries on the future development of the BRICS cooperation mechanism, promoting the consensus among all parties, conveying positive signals of unity and cooperation, advancing strategic collaboration and practical cooperation in various fields within BRICS, and striving for more new opportunities for the "Global South," thereby making greater contributions to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.