Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin attend a signing ceremony after their talks in Moscow, Russia, July 4, 2017. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his sixth tour to Russia since assuming office on Tuesday. The visit has been lauded by the media and the public from both countries, who believe that stronger bilateral ties will be beneficial for world stability and help reshape the current world order.

During his visit, Xi noted that the two countries’ relationship is “better than ever in history,” adding that the continued, sound, and steady development of China-Russia ties is conducive to maintaining the security and stability of the two nations; and to world peace, stability, and prosperity.

The two leaders also exchanged views on Syria, as well as issues relating to the Korean Peninsula, sealing deals worth a total of $10 billion, as well as more than a dozen intergovernmental agreements on cooperation in various fields.

Xi’s meeting with Putin was the third this year, while the two leaders have met a total of 22 times. Experts believe the frequent contact shows the mutual trust between the two powers, which may establish a new communication mode for major powers in the world.

“The tight relationship between Xi and Putin is cementing the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination,” Chen Yurong, a senior Eurasian studies researcher at the China Institute of International Studies, told China Daily.

Ballast stone in safeguarding global peace and stability

Due to President Trump’s controversial policies, the favorability of the U.S. has declined sharply, diminishing the country’s standing as a superpower in the eyes of the world. According to a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center in June, favorable ratings of the U.S. have dropped from 64 to 49 percent.

On the contrary, both Chinese and Russian leaders received positive ratings. Among four major world leaders, Xi ranks second in terms of favorable ratings, especially in Russia, where 53 percent have a favorable view of him, while Russia saw an increase in its rating under the leadership of Putin.

The improvement of China and Russia’s international status is beneficial for the world’s stability and prosperity, while closer bilateral ties will help the two countries get more say on international issues, said experts.

According to Andrey Denisov, Russian’s ambassador to China, Moscow and Beijing are determined to align their positions on international issues. He also noted that close bilateral relations can produce a sobering effect on other nations in international organizations, including the United Nations.

“When good intentions framed in lofty words lead to chaos, the collapse of states and, in the long run, to bloodshed and numerous human casualties, the role of stabilizers, of the factors that may have a cooling, stabilizing effect on the generally turbulent international situation is very important. And Russian-Chinese relations are, to my mind, such a stabilizing factor,” Denisov was quoted as saying by TASS on July 4.

Echoing Denisov, Zhang Jingquan, a professor of Northeast Asian studies at Jilin University, told China Daily that the steady development of China-Russia relations is good for the stability of the Eurasian continent.

Both countries, which have sought political solutions for the Syrian conflict and the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, have played the role of a "ballast stone" in safeguarding regional and global peace and stability, Zhang said.