(Beijing) Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that he was ready to “develop” cooperation between Moscow and Beijing, during congratulations exchanged for the 75e anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations, according to state media.
Xi stressed that China is “ready to join hands with Putin in constantly expanding global pragmatic cooperation between [nos] two countries,” indicated the Xinhua news agency.
“A permanent good neighborly friendship, total strategic coordination and beneficial cooperation for [chaque partie] have become the most essential features of bilateral relations between China and Russia,” the Chinese president told the Kremlin leader, according to the same source.
China presents itself as neutral in the conflict in Ukraine and ensures that it does not deliver any weapons to any party. But the Americans and Europeans regularly accuse him of offering Russia, targeted by significant Western sanctions, crucial economic support for its war effort.
In 2023, trade between China and Russia reached a record level.
Moscow and Beijing say they oppose “Western hegemony,” particularly what they see as American domination of world affairs.
On Wednesday, President Xi praised the two leaders’ efforts to strengthen bilateral relations in recent years “in the face of major and unprecedented changes in a century.”
“Mutual political trust between the two sides continues to strengthen, cooperation […] has achieved remarkable results,” underlined the Chinese leader.
The Chinese number one is due to participate in the BRICS summit in Kazan, western Russia, in October, where he is due to meet with the Russian president. With four members (Brazil, China, India and Russia) when it was created in 2009, the BRICS bloc was joined by South Africa in 2010 and expanded this year to several other emerging countries, including Egypt. and Iran.