Chinese Presidents Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday showed their willingness to support each other and strengthen their ties in the midst of a crisis with Westerners, during their first meeting since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (OCS) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, at a time when relations between their countries and the United States are highly strained. In this context, the rapprochement between Beijing and Moscow, whose relations are not free from friction, stands out against the United States which they consider hostile to their interests.
“ China is willing to work with Russia to shoulder their great power responsibilities, play a leading role and inject stability and positive energy into a chaotic world. said Xi Jinping at the start of the live-streamed interview.
According to Chinese state television, Xi Jinping also told Vladimir Putin that China was ready to “ work with Russia for firm and mutual support on issues related to each other’s core interests and deepen cooperation “. Putin, for his part, denounced Western attempts to create a unipolar world “, who have ” recently taken an absolutely ugly form and are completely unacceptable “.
Beijing supports Moscow without taking a position on Ukraine
Their previous meeting dates back to last February, when the Russian president went to the Winter Olympics in Beijing. They then declared their friendship. limitless “. If he praised Xi Jinping’s “balanced position” on Ukraine on Thursday, the Russian head of state also said ” to understand (his) questions and (his) worries ” on this subject. ” We will explain in detail our position “, he added, without further details.
Beijing has neither supported nor publicly criticized the Russian invasion, while repeatedly expressing its support for Moscow in the face of Western sanctions.
According to Chinese state television, Xi Jinping was also to have talks in Samarkand with the Belarusian president Alexander LukashenkoRussia’s main ally.
As if to signal their rapprochement in the face of tensions with the West, Russian and Chinese ships carried out a joint patrol in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday in order to ” strengthen their maritime cooperation said the Russian Defense Ministry. Vladimir Putin also reiterated Moscow’s support for Beijing over Taiwan, where visits by US officials in recent weeks have sparked the ire of China, condemning a ” provocation “.
(With AFP)