Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to work with his counterpart Vladimir Putin to “rejuvenate” their countries as the two began a day of talks in Beijing, saying China would “always be a good partner” of Russia. according to Chinese state media.
Putin arrived earlier Thursday for a two-day state visit that will include detailed talks on Ukraine, Asia, energy and trade with Xi, his most powerful political backer and the United States’ geopolitical rival .
“Today’s China-Russia relations are hard-won, and both sides should cherish and nurture them,” Xi told Putin as they met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing for their opening session.
“China is willing to… jointly realize the development and rejuvenation of our respective countries, and work together to uphold fairness and justice in the world.”
China and Russia declared a “no-holds-barred” partnership in February 2022 when Putin visited Beijing just days before sending tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine, sparking Europe’s deadliest land war since the Second World War.
By choosing China for his first foreign trip since being sworn in for a six-year term that will keep him in power until at least 2030, Putin is sending a message to the world about his priorities and the strength of his personal ties to Xi.
During their meeting, Putin told Xi that their cooperation was a stabilizing factor.
“It is of crucial importance that relations between Russia and China are not opportunistic and are not directed against anyone,” Putin said, according to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
New York Post
