Chinese leader Xi Jinping reiterated his support for Moscow on “sovereignty and security” issues in a call with colleague Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, maintaining his support for the countries’ partnership despite the global backlash against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Celebrating his 69th birthday, Xi also vowed to deepen strategic coordination between the two countries, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
According to the Kremlin, the two leaders stressed that relations between the countries were “at an all-time high” and reaffirmed their commitment to “consistently deepen the comprehensive partnership”.
The call is believed to be the second time the two leaders have spoken since Russia invaded Ukraine. They also spoke just days after Moscow launched what it insists on calling a “special military operation”.
China also refrains from referring to Russia’s actions as an invasion and walks a fine line on the matter. The country calls for peace and defending the global order, while refusing to denounce Russian actions. It also used its state media apparatus to imitate the Kremlin and blame the crisis on the United States and NATO.
During Wednesday’s call, Xi stressed that China has always “assessed the situation independently” of the conflict and called on “all parties” to press for a “proper resolution of the crisis in Ukraine” – echoing the language he used. in a March call with US President Joe. Biden.
China is “willing to continue to play its role” in promoting a “proper solution” for Ukraine, Xi said.
The Kremlin took this position a step further, saying, “The president of China has noted the legitimacy of Russia’s actions to protect fundamental national interests in the face of challenges to its security created by external forces.”
commercial ties
Wednesday’s call was also a chance for the two leaders to discuss a growing business relationship. Earlier this year, weeks before the Russian invasion, in a face-to-face meeting, the two leaders said their countries had an “unlimited” partnership and had committed to boosting trade.
“Since the beginning of this year, bilateral relations have maintained a solid momentum of development in the face of global turmoil and transformations,” Xi said in the recent conversation with Putin.
“The Chinese side stands ready to work with the Russian side to push forward the stable and long-term development of bilateral cooperation,” Xi said, pointing to the “steady progress” of their trade ties and the opening last week of the first cross-border bridge. over the Amur River.
The two agreed to expand cooperation in energy, finance, manufacturing and other areas, “taking into account the global economic situation that has become more complicated due to the illegitimate policy of sanctions adopted by the West,” the Kremlin said.
Both countries have also committed to working together to strengthen communication and coordination in international bodies such as the United Nations – where the two often vote together.
“China is also willing to work with Russia to promote solidarity and cooperation among emerging market countries and push the development of international order and global governance towards a more just and reasonable direction,” Xi said in a statement. a comment that hit on the countries’ common goal of fighting what they see as the global hegemony of the United States.
birthday greetings
The call was not the first time that Xi and Putin – two men bound by the West’s mutual distrust – have had engagements on each other’s birthdays.
In 2013, Xi presented Putin with a birthday cake and the two drank vodka together to mark the Russian leader’s 61st birthday during a conference in Indonesia. The Chinese ruler celebrated his 66th birthday during a 2019 summit in Tajikistan with Putin, who surprised him with ice cream, cake and champagne.
The personal relationship between the two, in which Xi describes Putin as his “best friend”, is also expected to reinforce the dynamics of their increasingly strong relationship on an international level.
Source: CNN Brasil
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