The Russian edition of the first volume of "China's Governance Under Xi Jinping's Leadership" has been launched at the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, according to Chinese state media reports published Sunday.
The volume, originally published in China in 2014, compiles speeches, talks and writings by Chinese President Xi Jinping covering economic reform, governance, anti-corruption efforts and foreign policy during his early years in office. The series has since expanded to multiple volumes and been translated into a range of languages for international distribution. A second volume was released in 2017 and a third in 2020, extending the collection to cover later policy initiatives including the Belt and Road Initiative and the concept of a "community with a shared future for mankind."
The Russian edition was unveiled during the St. Petersburg forum in early June, an annual event that draws government officials, business leaders and academics from Russia and other countries. Chinese officials have regularly used the forum to promote bilateral trade and investment between China and Russia.
Foreign experts attending the event offered comments on the book's significance, as reported by Xinhua. Sheradil Baktygulov, director of the Kyrgyz Institute of World Politics, said Xi's governance philosophy has led to what he described as "historic achievements" in poverty reduction, infrastructure development and public services. Igor Maksimtsev, rector of St. Petersburg State University of Economics, said the philosophy set out in the book demonstrates that "modernization does not entail blindly copying Western or any other external models."
The first volume of the series has been one of China's most widely promoted political publications abroad. Since its initial release, it has been translated into English, French, Spanish, German, Arabic, Japanese and numerous other languages. Chinese state media has reported distribution in more than 170 countries and regions. Launch events have frequently been timed to coincide with high-level visits or international conferences.
The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum took place against a backdrop of expanding economic ties between China and Russia. Bilateral trade between the two countries has grown significantly since 2022, driven largely by increased Chinese imports of Russian energy and raw materials, and expanded Russian purchases of Chinese manufactured goods and industrial equipment.
China has been the largest trading partner of Russia for several consecutive years, with bilateral trade volumes reaching record levels in 2025, according to Chinese customs data. The book launch at the forum reflects the broader cultural and political dimensions of the Sino-Russian relationship, alongside its economic foundation. China has positioned the promotion of leadership texts as part of its public diplomacy efforts, though the extent to which these publications influence policy perceptions abroad remains subject to debate among international relations analysts.
Sources: Xinhua
