Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Russia on the 20th as his first diplomatic schedule since confirming his third consecutive term.
According to the announcement of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, President Xi will visit Russia from the 20th to the 22nd and will hold talks with President Vladimir Putin during the visit.
The face-to-face meeting between President Xi and President Putin has been seven months since the meeting was held on the occasion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit held in Uzbekistan in September last year.
The two leaders are expected to discuss the Ukraine situation, China-Russia relations, and the US response at the meeting.
Previously, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in a regular briefing on the 17th that “during President Xi’s visit, the two leaders will have in-depth discussions on strengthening substantive cooperation, a common concern.”
With this meeting as an opportunity, attention is focused on whether China will try to provide weapons to Russia or whether China will be able to play a meaningful mediating role in relation to the war in Ukraine.
Responding to a related question at the briefing, Spokesperson Wang said, “The Chinese side has always taken a prudent and responsible attitude toward the export of military supplies and has consistently controlled the export of dual-use items in accordance with laws and regulations.” , unilateral sanctions without UN Security Council (Security Council) approval and expanded jurisdiction (a move to apply a country’s domestic law to other countries) has also been opposed.”
“China’s stance and actions are consistent,” he said. “This contrasts sharply with the actions of some countries (the United States and the West) applying double standards to the issue of munitions exports and instigating the crisis in Ukraine.”
In particular, he stressed that “China has been promoting normal trade and cooperation with countries including Russia on the basis of equality and mutual benefit” and that “the cooperation between China and Russia is fair and just.”
At the same time, he added, “This (bilateral cooperation) is intended to benefit the people of both countries and promote world development,” adding that “it is not subject to interference or oppression by third countries.”
On the other hand, Chinese state-run media voiced one voice, saying, “China-Russia relations must be strong and further developed.”
In a commentary on the 19th, Renmin Lebao, a party newspaper, stressed that “the more unstable the world is, the more steady China-Russia relations must develop.”
“Maintaining long-term high-level contacts and deepening strategic cooperation between China and Russia are key to safeguarding common interests and maintaining geopolitical stability,” the newspaper added.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.