Xi Jinping and Putin applaud ties amid war in Ukraine

Beijing:

Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin applauded the strength of their alliance on Monday as the Chinese leader headed to Moscow for a summit with the internationally isolated Russian president.

Xi described his trip as a “journey of friendship, cooperation and peace”, although China has been criticized by Western countries for what they see as tacit support and diplomatic cover for the war in China. Russia in Ukraine.

“I look forward to working with President Putin to jointly embrace a new vision” for relations, Xi wrote in a byline article in the Russian Gazette newspaper, also published by China’s state news agency Xinhua.

China has sought to portray itself as a neutral party in the war against Ukraine, and its foreign ministry said last week that Beijing would “play a constructive role in promoting peace talks” between Kyiv and Moscow.

Putin hailed Beijing’s moves towards Ukraine as indicating a willingness to play a “constructive role” in ending the conflict, while saying Sino-Russian relations were “at the highest point”.

Xi’s trip serves to support an isolated Putin, who in a defiant move traveled to the Ukrainian city of Mariupol on Sunday – his first visit to territory captured from Kiev since Moscow’s invasion in February 2022.

Xi’s visit also comes just days after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Putin for the war crime of illegally deporting Ukrainian children.

Beijing said on Monday that the ICC should avoid what it called “politicization and double standards”, and respect the immunity of heads of state.

The court must ‘maintain an objective and impartial stance’ and ‘respect the immunity of heads of state from jurisdiction under international law,’ Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a briefing. regular.

The solution to the Ukrainian conflict, he added, remains “dialogue and negotiation”.

Neither China nor Russia are signatories to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC.

– “Limitless” friendship –

Xi, who broke a long-standing precedent to begin a third term as president this month, called Putin an “old friend”.

Beijing and Moscow have grown closer in recent years in a “limitless” partnership that has served as a diplomatic bulwark against the West.

China has slammed what it sees as a US-led pressure campaign against Russia as Moscow’s war in Ukraine drags on, calling instead for what it calls “impartial” mediation by the conflict.

Beijing released a 12-point position paper in February calling for dialogue and respect for the territorial sovereignty of all countries.

“No country should dictate the international order,” Xi wrote in his Russian news article on Monday.

“China has always taken an objective and impartial position based on the merits of the issue, and actively promoted the peace talks,” he added.

Beijing’s stance has drawn criticism from Western countries, who say China is providing diplomatic cover for Moscow’s war.

They argue that China’s proposals are heavy on broad principles but light on practical solutions.

Last week, the United States said China’s proposals would simply shore up “Russian conquest” and allow the Kremlin to prepare for a new offensive.

“We do not support calls for a ceasefire at this time,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Friday.

“We certainly do not support calls for a ceasefire that would be demanded by the PRC at a meeting in Moscow that would simply benefit Russia,” he said, referring to the People’s Republic of China, the official name of the country.

Washington has also accused Beijing of considering arms exports to Moscow, which China has vehemently denied.

– ‘A new vision’ –

Analysts say Xi’s moves are unlikely to lead to a rapprochement in the war in Ukraine.

Nevertheless, his move will be followed closely in Western capitals.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Xi may also be planning his first call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky since the start of the war.

Zelensky said he would welcome talks with his Chinese counterpart.

Xi and Putin are expected to have an “informal” one-on-one meeting and dinner on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s talks, Putin’s top foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told Russian news agencies.

They will also sign an agreement “on strengthening the comprehensive partnership (of the two countries) and strategic relations entering a new era”, the Kremlin said, as well as a joint statement on Russian-Chinese economic cooperation until 2030 .

(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)