President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China would give “priority” to relations with Russiatwo “neighbouring great powers”, a few hours before meeting his counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow to address the conflict in Ukraine and whom he has invited to Beijing.
On the second day of his state visit to Russia, Xi felt that his trip responded to a “historical logic”, since “we are great neighboring powers and strategic partners at all levels“.
The Chinese president also noted that Beijing “will continue to prioritize the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia,” he remarked during an interview with Russian premier Mikhail Mishustin, reported by Russian news agencies.
Xi also invited his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin visit your country during this year.
During the interview with the Russian premier, Xi said that Chinese premier Li Qiang “will continue to give priority to global strategic collaboration between China and Russia”, and that the invitation addressed to Putin also extends to Mishustin, and that he hopes that the same will take place “as soon as possible”.
“We in Russia are sincerely interested in further strengthening our global partnership and strategic engagement with China. Our relations are at the highest level in the entire history of many centuries and influence the formation of the global agenda, in the logic of the multipolarity,” said the Russian prime minister.
Surprise in Kiev
Parallel to Xi’s visit to Moscow, another Asian ruler, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, made a surprise trip to Kiev to meet with Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky.
Kishida will “directly convey to President Zelensky respect for the courage and perseverance of the Ukrainian people who, under his leadership, have risen to defend their homeland,” the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
signing agreement
This Tuesday Xi arrived at the seat of the Russian government, which also serves as the seat of Parliament, before moving to the Kremlin to meet Putin again, as he had already done informally on Monday, this time in an official meeting where he was expected signing numerous agreements between the two countries.
The conflict in the former Soviet republic will be at the center of the new meeting between Xi and Putin on Tuesday, but any mediation advance is ruled out when the Chinese president You show so much interest in your relationship with Moscow.
At Monday’s meeting, Putin said he was “open to negotiations” on Ukraine and praised China’s 12-point peace proposal, which includes a call for dialogue and respect for territorial sovereignty from all countries.
Putin assured that both countries have “many goals in common”, and praised China for this his “just and balanced position on the most pressing international issues”.
For his part, Xi said that China is “ready to stand firmly on the side of Russia” in the name of “true multilateralism”.
Western powers have criticized China’s stance on Ukraine which, in their view, it implies China’s tacit support for Moscow’s armed intervention.
The head of US diplomacy, Antony Blinken, whose country provides military and economic assistance to Ukraine, urged the international community not to be “misled” by China’s position, accusing it of “providing diplomatic cover for Russia”.
For its part, Kiev, wary of Chinese intentions, has urged Xi to “use his influence over Moscow to end the war of aggression“.
At odds during the Cold War, Russia and China strengthened their collaboration in recent yearsunited in the desire to counter US dominance in international politics.
However, analysts consider it difficult for China, which recently participated in the diplomatic reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, to obtain a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine.
In addition to the complex geopolitical situation, economic issues they will also focus on the meeting between Putin and Xi.
Russian gas in Beijing
The trip of the Chinese leader takes place at a time when Russia redirects its economy to Asiato evade Western sanctions against them.
One example is Tuesday’s announcement by Russian giant Gazprom, which it supplied the day before a “record” volume of gas in Beijing through the Siberian cross-border gas pipeline.
According to the Kremlin, Xi and Putin will sign several documents on Tuesday, including a joint statement to deepen their economic ties by 2030.
Agencies
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.