Chinese Presidents Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday showed their willingness to support each other and strengthen their ties in the midst of a crisis with Westerners, during their first meeting since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, at a time when relations between their countries and the United States are highly strained.
In this context, the rapprochement between Beijing and Moscow, whose relations are not free from friction, stands out against the United States which they consider hostile to their interests.
“China is willing to work with Russia to shoulder their great power responsibilities, play a leading role, and inject stability and positive energy into a chaotic world,” Xi Jinping said at the start. interview broadcast live.
According to Chinese state television, Xi also told Putin that China stands ready to “work with Russia for firm and mutual support on issues related to each other’s core interests and deepen cooperation.”
Mr Putin, for his part, denounced Western attempts to “create a unipolar world”, which have “recently taken an absolutely ugly form and are totally unacceptable”.
“Concerns” about Ukraine?
Their previous meeting dates back to last February, when the Russian president went to the Winter Olympics in Beijing. They had then proclaimed their friendship “without limit”.
A few days later, Mr. Putin launched his troops against Ukraine.
If he praised Mr. Xi’s “balanced position” on Ukraine on Thursday, the Russian head of state also said “understand (his) questions and (his) concerns” on this subject. “We will explain our position in detail,” he added, without further details.
Beijing has neither publicly supported nor criticized the Russian invasion, while repeatedly expressing support for Moscow in the face of Western sanctions.
According to Chinese state television, Xi was also due to hold talks in Samarkand with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Russia’s main ally.
The meeting between Messrs. Xi and Putin is the most anticipated event of the SCO summit which is due to last until Friday and brings together several leaders, including those of India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and the countries of ‘Central Asia.
For Mr. Putin, who is trying to accelerate a shift towards Asia in the face of Western sanctions against his country following its offensive against Ukraine, where its army is in difficulty, this summit makes it possible to show that the Russia is not isolated.
Before Mr. Xi, he spoke with the presidents of Iran Ebrahim Raisi, Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, and Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdymoukhamedov, saying each time that he wanted to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
In Samarkand, Mr. Xi, who is making his first foreign trip to Central Asia since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, hopes to further cement his stature as a top leader ahead of a Chinese Communist Party congress in October where he is aiming for an unprecedented third term.
Taiwan: Putin supports Xi
As if to signal their rapprochement in the face of tensions with the West, Russian and Chinese ships carried out a joint patrol in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday to “strengthen their maritime cooperation”, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
During the interview on Thursday, Putin reiterated Moscow’s support for Beijing over Taiwan, where visits by US officials in recent weeks have drawn the ire of China, condemning a “provocation”.
The SCO, whose members are China, Russia, India, Pakistan and four former Soviet republics of Central Asia, was created in 2001 as a tool for political, economic and security cooperation competing with the Western organizations.
“The Shanghai Cooperation Organization offers a real alternative to Western-oriented structures,” Kremlin diplomatic adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters on Tuesday.
The conflict in Ukraine, the situation in Afghanistan or even the unrest that has shaken several Central Asian countries in recent months should be among the main topics discussed.
Mr. Putin is due to have talks with several other leaders, including Friday with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.