You're reading: Putin: Expansion of Russia’s cooperation with China doesn’t mean end of relations with Europe

Russia has no intention of ending its relations with its traditional partners, including Europe, and expansion of cooperation with China is a global trend, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

“Russia is also thinking about it [expansion of cooperation with China], and it didn’t begin thinking about it yesterday or due to some sanctions or political restrictions. We have been talking about it for a long time. Why did we create the SCO and BRICS?” Putin said at VTB Capital’s investment forum Russia Calling!.

“However, these sanctions are, of course, making us intensify this work which we are doing. But there is nothing unusual about it. And by the way, we are not going to end our relations with our traditional partners, for example, Europe,” Putin said.