(Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he hopes Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a state visit to Russia early next year.
But the official Chinese readout of the video summit between the two leaders highlighted differences in their approach to the developing alliance, making no mention of visiting Beijing and refusing to support or condemn aggression. emphasized maintaining its “objective and impartial”. stance on the problem.
Since sending troops to Ukraine in February, Russia has turned its back on the Western powers that have disfellowshipped it economically and politically and armed Ukraine, instead embracing the rise of its longtime rival China. Working with global powers.
“Dear Chairman, dear friend, I look forward to an official visit to Moscow next spring,” Putin said in an eight-minute bombastic opening statement aired on state television.
“This will demonstrate to the whole world the strength of Russia-China relations on key issues.”
He also said he aims to promote military cooperation with China, although a phone report from China’s state broadcaster CCTV made no mention of this.
Although Mr. Xi called Mr. Putin a “dear friend,” his opening remark was about a quarter the length of Mr. Putin’s and had a much more pragmatic tone.
The two signed an “unrestricted” strategic partnership in February against the backdrop of their shared distrust of the West, days before Russia sent troops to Ukraine in what it called a “special military operation.” rice field.
trade surges
Since major Western economies responded to the aggression with an unprecedented and coordinated barrage of sanctions, Russia has been forced to look for other markets, overtaking Saudi Arabia as China’s largest oil supplier. Bilateral trade soared and financial ties expanded.
On Friday, Russia’s finance ministry said it would “de-dollarize” its economy and end its dependence on “unfriendly” countries, including the United States, European countries, and people’s money in the National Wealth Fund (NWF). Doubled the original maximum possible share to 60%. Union members, UK and Japan.
Moscow has also openly supported Xi’s position on Taiwan, accusing Western countries of seeking to provoke conflict over the status of an autonomous island.
“You and I share the same view on the causes, course and logic of the ongoing changes in the global geopolitical landscape in the face of unprecedented pressure and provocations from the West,” Putin said to Xi. I am doing,” he said.
But China’s leaders have been quiet about criticizing the West, China’s main export market, and seemingly cool about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
China has refrained from condemnation and instead emphasized the need for peace, but Putin publicly admitted in September that his Chinese counterparts had “concerns” about Russia’s actions.
Beijing has so far been careful not to provide direct material support for aggression that could trigger Western sanctions against China.
But Xi told Putin on Friday that China was ready to step up strategic cooperation with Russia against the backdrop of what he called a “difficult” situation across the globe.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the talks were substantive and constructive, but a date for Xi’s visit had not yet been set.
Reported by Reuters. Additional reporting by Eduardo Baptista from Shanghai. Written by Kevin Liffey. Edited by Andrew Heavens and Tomasz Janowski
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
