Xi Jinping and Putin: A Strategic Partnership of Two Major Powers

Yesterday, Chinese leaders Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed two major agreements to expand comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation. Xi Jinping said that Beijing will continue to prioritize relations with Russia, given that the two countries are excellent neighbors and strategic partners. Putin and Xi spent four and a half hours on Monday, their first informal meeting in the Kremlin. Addressing Xi as his “dear friend” at the beginning of the meeting, Putin said: “I know that … you have a fair and balanced position on the most pressing international issues.” He said he was “respectfully” considering Beijing’s initiative for peace in Ukraine, stressing that Russia and China have “many common goals.” For his part, Xi Jinping stressed during the meeting that his country will “continue to play a constructive role” in finding a political solution to the conflict in Ukraine, the New China news agency reported. On the second day of his visit to Moscow, the Chinese President confirmed that Beijing would continue to make relations with Russia a “priority” given that the two countries are “two great neighboring powers” and “strategic partners.” He announced that he had invited his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to visit China this year, a testament to the strength of ties between the two countries, which face tensions with the West. “Yesterday, I invited President Putin to visit China this year at his convenience,” Xi said during a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ahead of a second round of talks with the Russian president, Russian news agencies reported. “Prime Minister Li Qiang will continue to prioritize the all-round strategic partnership between China and Russia,” he added. During a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Michustin, the Chinese President said, according to Russian news agencies, that Chinese Premier Li Qiang will continue to prioritize the all-round strategic partnership between China and Russia. During a meeting with the Chinese President, Mishustin said: “Last year, traffic was opened at road and rail crossings across the Amur River, new projects are being prepared that will significantly increase traffic along the Trans-Siberian and Trans-Asian routes. The Prime Minister of Russia said that in the new geopolitical conditions, the importance of transport and logistics corridors based on the development of border infrastructure is becoming increasingly important. “We in Russia are sincerely interested in further strengthening comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation with China,” Mishustin added. He noted that bilateral relations are at the highest level in centuries of history and influence the formation of the global agenda in the logic of multipolarity.The Chinese President arrived in Russia for a three-day visit, which is his first foreign visit after being re-elected for a third presidential term.The leaders of the two countries discussed the dossier of the Ukraine conflict and the dossier of cooperation between the two countries.Economic and financial issues also occupied much of the talks between Xi and Putin.Xi’s three-day state visit provides the Russian president with an opportunity to appear alongside an important partner at a time when as he faces isolation in the West and last week the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest for war crimes. China mediates in Ukraine and issued a 12-point document in February calling for a “cessation of hostilities” and respect for the territorial integrity and unity of all countries, and urging Moscow and Kiev to enter into peace talks. However, Western countries believe that Beijing’s support for Moscow does not allow it to be an authoritative mediator. Washington recently accused the Chinese authorities of considering transferring weapons to Russia, which China vehemently denies. Some in the West believe that China may use Russia’s attack on Ukraine as a model for attacking Taiwan. On Monday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken questioned Beijing’s proposals for “peace” in Ukraine and said: “The world should not be deceived by any tactical decision by Russia, backed by China or any other country, to freeze the war in Ukraine.” its terms.” For his part, Fumio Kishida went to Kyiv on a surprise visit, during which he will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Tokyo reports. And the Japanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Kishida “will convey to President Zelensky his respect for the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people defending their homeland under their leadership, and will also express solidarity and unwavering support for Ukraine from Japan and the G7, whose meetings Japan hosts this year. Kishida is the only leader of the seven countries who has not visited Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion of the country in February 2022. He will be the first Japanese prime minister to visit a conflict zone since the end of the world war. II. Tokyo joined Western sanctions against Russia and in February announced new $5.5bn (€5.1bn) aid to Ukraine. However, Japan did not provide military assistance to Kyiv, as this is prohibited by the country’s pacifist constitution.