On June 5, 2019 local time, President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin of Russia attended a gathering marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Russia diplomatic relations and watched an artistic performance at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow.

The brightly illuminated Bolshoi Theater, located in the center of Moscow, was immersed in a happy and festive atmosphere in the evening.

At about 20:45 p.m. local time, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin stepped into the Bolshoi Theater together. All the people present stood up and gave a warm applause.

Vladimir Putin delivered a speech first, in which he indicated that the Russia-China relations have travelled an extraordinary journey of development over the past seven decades. With mutual support and assistance, the two sides have promoted bilateral relations to an unprecedentedly high level. China has been Russia's largest trading partner, with fruitful results being achieved in cooperation in areas such as energy, aerospace, science and technology. Russia and China have worked closely together and made significant contributions to safeguarding international and regional security and stability, solving hotspot issues and addressing new challenges and threats faced by humanity. Russia and China jointly support world multi-polarization, safeguard the international law as well as the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations (UN), and promote the formation of a new international order based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. I signed and issued a joint statement with President Xi Jinping today, setting out even more ambitious goals for deepening Russia-China cooperation. The Russian side stands ready to work with the Chinese side to better benefit the two peoples.

Amid warm applause, Xi Jinping delivered a speech themed on working together to create a better future for China-Russia relations in the new era.

Xi Jinping said that we gather here today for the joyful occasion of celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia and ushering in another historic moment in our relations. We will always cherish our unbreakable bond forged with lives and blood during the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War and the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, in which the army and people of the two countries fought side by side against fascism. Just one day after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Soviet Union recognized the country and diplomatic relations with it. In the early days of the People's Republic of China when development in all fronts were lagging behind, a large number of Soviet Union experts helped lay the foundation for industrialization with their wisdom and hard work, telling a good story of the friendship between the two peoples. In the 21st century, China and Russia signed the landmark Treaty of Good-neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation and lifted their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, setting a paradigm for building a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for humanity.

Xi Jinping stressed that having withstood the test of changing global and domestic landscapes over the past seven decades, China-Russia relations are increasingly mature, stable and resilient. President Vladimir Putin and I have announced to develop China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era to jointly open a new era of higher level and greater development of China-Russia relations.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China-Russia relations in the new era should be built on mutual trust and strong strategic support, and that we should better support each other on issues concerning our respective core interests and keep a firm hand on the strategic direction of bilateral relations. China and Russia should deepen the convergence of their interests, tighten the bond of common interests, continue synergizing the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union, and create a new pattern of mutually beneficial cooperation between both countries. We need to work hard to increase people-to-people bonds, consolidate the public support for the lasting friendship, and encourage exchanges and mutual learning between all sectors of society and local governments of the two countries so as to pass on the baton of China-Russia friendship from generation to generation. We should be more responsible, join hands to the maintain world peace and tranquility, work together with the international community to firmly safeguard the international system with the UN at the core, maintain the international order based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and promote world multi-polarization and democratization in international relations, to jointly build a more prosperous, stable, fair and just world, and build a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind.

Xi Jinping emphasized that the past 70 years have fully proved that China and Russia are good neighbors and true partners, as they were before and will be in the future. China and Russia are good neighbors that cannot be moved away and true partners that cannot be separated. With the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as a new starting point, let us work together and forge ahead side by side to open up a bright future for China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.

When the speeches of the two heads of state ended, the theater was filled with warm applauses.

Then, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin watched a short video on people-to-people and cultural exchanges as well as an artistic performance presented by Chinese and Russian artists.

The performance began with a Russian folk song Along a Wide Street. A Chinese orchestral performance Celebration Overture also added to the festive and harmonious atmosphere. Chinese and Russian artists performed a Chinese folk song Jasmine Flowers and the Russian music Red Berries in Blossom, together to express their praise for the traditional friendship between China and Russia. Blessing from the East constitutes a musical picture with profound artistic conception. The performance ended with the Russian folk music Kalinka.

About 1,600 people from all walks of life from China and Russia attended the gathering.

Before the event, the two heads of state toured a photo exhibition marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of China-Russia diplomatic relations.

Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi, He Lifeng and others attended the above events.