Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that conflicts and threats in the world “strengthen” his country’s relationship with China, during a trip to Beijing.
“Regarding the impact of external factors and conflicts on the development of Russian-Chinese relations, all these external factors are common threats that strengthen cooperation between Russia and China,” he said.
Vladimir Putin thus said “to consider with optimism” the “prospects” of cooperation with his Chinese ally, an essential partner for Moscow at a time when international sanctions are weighing on the Russian economy.
The Russian leader was speaking at a press conference, hours after a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who praised the “growing” trust between Beijing and Moscow.
“Mutual political trust between the two countries is constantly growing,” he told his ally, according to the official Xinhua news agency, at a time when the two men displayed their unity against the West.
The leader called on the two countries to “safeguard international equity” and “justice”, according to the same source, highlighting their “close and effective strategic coordination”.
Mr. Xi recalled meeting Mr. Putin 42 times over the past decade and “developed a good working relationship and deep friendship” with his counterpart.
The two men met at the People’s Palace on the sidelines of the New Silk Roads forum in Beijing, which comes as the world turns its attention to the Israel-Hamas war.
“Confrontation of the blocks”
Heavily sanctioned by the West because of its offensive against Ukraine, Russia is seeking to strengthen its already close ties with China, which seems to have taken the upper hand in their bilateral relations.
Vladimir Putin is the distinguished guest of the forum attended by representatives of some 130 countries, mainly from the South.
This is his first trip to a major world power since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which isolated Russia on the international scene.
At the opening of the forum, Xi Jinping denounced the “block confrontation”. “We oppose unilateral sanctions, economic coercion, decoupling and the reduction of economic ties,” he said.
In a context of tensions with Beijing, certain political leaders in Europe and the United States are advocating “decoupling” with China, that is to say cutting all economic ties with the Asian giant, or at least limiting their addiction.
Beijing will not engage in “an ideological confrontation, geopolitical games or a confrontation of blocs,” assured Xi Jinping.
“Fair cooperation”
Moscow and Beijing “share the desire for fair cooperation in the world,” declared Vladimir Putin in a speech, hailing the “success” of the New Silk Roads.
Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, present at the forum as special envoy of President Emmanuel Macron, left the room shortly before the start of Mr. Putin’s speech, according to journalists on site.
During his subsequent meeting with his “dear friend” Xi Jinping, the Russian president stressed the importance of “close coordination on foreign policy” in “the current difficult conditions,” according to a Kremlin report.
China is Russia’s largest trading partner, with trade at a record $190 billion last year. Xi recalled on Wednesday the target of 200 billion set by the two countries this year.
He also defended the New Silk Roads, a vast infrastructure project carried out by Beijing in around a hundred countries, affirming that they will “bring new impetus to the world economy”.