4 hours ago
image source,Reuters
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Putin and Xi Jinping hold talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. It was the first meeting between the two sides since Russia invaded Ukraine.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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This is the first time that the leaders of Russia and China have met since Russia launched its war against Ukraine in February.
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Xi’s encounter with Russia comes at a time when Russia is facing a major setback in its war in Ukraine.
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During the meeting, Xi said Beijing is ready to play a leadership role with Moscow to put the changing world on a sustainable development track, Sputnik said.
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Xi Jinping said the world is undergoing major changes unprecedented in modern history: “We are ready to join hands with our Russian colleagues to lead by example of a responsible world power and play a leading role in bringing the world into rapid evolution on the path of sustainable and positive development “.
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Xi Jinping also expressed a willingness to exchange views with Russia on bilateral agendas and international and regional issues of common interest.
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Reuters reported that Xi Jinping said during the talks that he was very happy to meet Putin, an “old friend”.
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Putin said he understood Xi’s questions and concerns about the situation in Ukraine, but praised China’s “balanced” stance in the war.
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“We greatly appreciate the balanced position of our Chinese friends in the Ukrainian crisis. We understand your questions and concerns. In today’s talks we will explain our position,” Putin said.
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Putin also criticized the US attempt to create a unipolar world would fail.
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Western countries have been critical of China’s vague stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In international and national public opinion, Chinese officials have always maintained a sympathetic attitude and position on the invasion of Russia.
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China has not publicly condemned Russia and has even used “special military operations” to describe the Russian-Ukrainian war, which many countries have denounced as an “invasion”.
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From understanding to “coping”
According to official Chinese statistics, Xi Jinping and Putin have met 38 times since 2013. The last time they met was during the Beijing Winter Olympics in February. Putin was one of the few foreign heads of state who traveled to Beijing to attend the opening ceremony when Western countries diplomatically boycotted the Beijing Winter Olympics due to the Uyghur human rights dispute in Xinjiang.
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After their February meeting, the two leaders issued a joint statement stating that the two countries “have no limits to friendship and no restricted areas for cooperation.”
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This meeting at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has special significance for both sides: Xi Jinping completely cut off his overseas visits during the nearly three years of the new crown epidemic. His first visit to Central Asia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan shows his commitment to Shanghai Organization for Cooperation Paying attention to it also shows that the relationship with member states is unusual: Xi Jinping met Putin at a time when Russia was isolated from Western countries due to the invasion of Ukraine.
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Prior to Xi Jinping’s participation in the SCO summit this time, Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People’s Assembly and member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party’s Political Bureau, has just concluded his visit to Russia. During his visit to Russia, he said that China “expressed full understanding of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and responded in several respects”.
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Li Zhanshu did not explain how China has “cooperated” or “will cooperate”, but his remarks from “understanding” to “cooperation” have attracted widespread attention from the outside world and are considered to be Beijing’s most powerful response so far. in Moscow. .
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The meeting between Xi Jinping and Putin this time will undoubtedly remind the outside world once again that the strategic relationship of cooperation between China and Russia “has no limits and has no restricted areas”.
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Shanghai Cooperation Organization
image source,EPA
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Putin also held talks with Iranian President Lacey at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, expressing his pleasure that Iran is about to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
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Since the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2001, after more than 20 years of expansion, its members include not only China and Russia, but also India, Pakistan and Central Asian countries. The circle of force “.
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The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit held in Uzbekistan will officially accept Iran as a member state.
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Putin also met with Iranian President Lacey during the summit and expressed his satisfaction with Iran’s accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. “We went to great lengths to make Iran a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,” Putin said. “Iran joins this serious, great and authoritative international organization”.
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Putin also said that on many international issues the positions of Moscow and Tehran are close or equal.
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Iranian President Lacey said during the talks that Moscow and Tehran are linked by strategic ties. “Since this is a strategic relationship, we need to develop cooperation in the political, economic and space fields.”
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