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In a recent video conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping focused on strengthening the economic ties between their respective nations and discussed their relations with the United States. During this meeting, Putin accepted Xi’s invitation to visit China twice within the year.
This discussion unfolded against the backdrop of Xi’s ongoing engagements with Western leaders, who are striving to forge closer relations with China despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. European leaders have consistently urged China to withdraw its support for Russia. Nonetheless, Beijing has emerged as Moscow’s primary trading partner, a crucial development for Russia as it seeks ways to counteract Western-imposed economic sanctions.
In remarks aired by Russian state television, President Putin expressed his commitment to the partnership with China. “I would like to once again assure you of firm support for our shared efforts to ensure the sovereignty and security of our countries, our socio-economic welfare, and the right to choose our own development path,” he stated, emphasizing the mutual goals and aspirations of the two nations.
European leaders have pressed China for years to end its support for Russia even as Beijing has become the number one trading partner for Moscow, which seeks relief from Western economic sanctions.
“I would like to once again assure you of firm support for our shared efforts to ensure the sovereignty and security of our countries, our socio-economic welfare and the right to choose our own development path,” Putin said in opening remarks that were broadcast by Russian state television.
Many of America’s closest partners are exploring opportunities with China following clashes with President Donald Trump over tariffs and his demands to take over Greenland from NATO ally Denmark.
The Xi-Putin call followed visits by the British and Canadian prime ministers to Beijing last month. The German chancellor is also expected to visit in February.
“Amid the growing global turbulence, the foreign policy link between Moscow and Beijing has remained a major stabilising factor,” Putin said.
Growing Russia-China relations
Xi said that he and Putin would discuss plans for the development of bilateral ties and “exchange views on major strategic issues,” according to a Russian translation of his opening remarks.
He noted the two countries need to “use a historic opportunity to continue deepening strategic cooperation.”
Noting that Wednesday was the first day of spring according to the Chinese calendar, Xi said he would Iike to work with Putin on “a new blueprint for China-Russia relations” on a day that symbolises new beginnings, an online report from Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said.
Putin praised their “strategic” energy ties along with cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear energy and high-tech projects, including in the industrial sphere and space research. He specifically applauded China’s decision to allow visa-free entry for Russians, a move that Moscow reciprocated.
Xi noted that the two had led their countries’ relations to a new stage of development in the past year and that their trade and economic exchanges are progressing steadily, CCTV said.
The Chinese leader called for close high-level exchanges and pragmatic cooperation to ensure the further development of ties with deeper strategic cooperation and more active great power responsibility, Chinese state media reported.
Putin and Xi discuss ties with the US
Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov, who briefed reporters after the Putin-Xi call, emphasised that Moscow and Beijing “support each other on key issues concerning national interests in the face of external challenges.”
Ushakov said Xi invited Putin to visit China in the first half of the year and the Russian leader accepted. Putin will also attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit that China will host in Shenzhen in November, he added.
Putin and Xi exchanged views about their countries’ relations with the US, Ushakov said, noting they “practically coincide,” including their assessment o Trump’s Board of Peace.
“Russia and China stand for equal and mutually beneficial cooperation on the basis of international law and the United Nations Charter,” Ushakov said.
Putin had previously thanked Trump for the invitation to join the Board of Peace and said Moscow would consider it. He also offered to earmark US$1 billion from the Russian assets frozen in the US to help rebuild Gaza.
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