Vladimir Putin And Xi Jinping Agree To Strengthen Russia-China Ties Amid Rising Tensions With US
In a significant display of their strengthening alliance, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin vowed to enhance their strategic cooperation during their meeting in Beijing Thursday.
This comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions as Russian forces advance in Ukraine.
Xi Jinping, 70, greeted Putin at Beijing's Great Hall of the People with elaborate military ceremonies, marking the commencement of the Russian leader's two-day official visit, accompanied by key defense and security figures from Russia.
A comprehensive joint statement issued by Jinping and Putin underscored their nations' harmonized stance across various domains, encompassing energy, commerce, defense, and global affairs, notably addressing issues concerning Ukraine, Taiwan, and conflicts in the Middle East.
This visit, notable as Putin's first international trip following the commencement of his recent presidential term, serves as a symbolic gesture, indicative of the deepening bond between Russia and China amid escalating tensions with Western powers.
The declaration affirmed the enduring resilience of Sino-Russian relations, emphasizing that their relations have "the test of rapid changes in the world, demonstrating strength and stability, and are experiencing the best period in their history." Both Jinping and Putin, 71, consider themselves "priority partners."
Putin, whose nation's economic ties with China have deepened notably following his country's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, lauded the "practical cooperation" between the two nations during discussions with Jinping. He highlighted the substantial bilateral trade volume achieved last year and underscored the significance of enhancing cooperation in energy, industry, and agriculture, as reported by Russian state media Tass.
