Putin and Xi discuss cooperation via video call

Russia expects Chinese President Xi Jinping to travel to Moscow next spring for a state visit. Russian President Vladimir Putin said this on Friday in a video call with Xi, in which the heads of government discussed the relationship between the two countries. According to Putin, the planned meeting shows how close the relationship between Russia and China is, according to international news agencies.

During his eight-minute monologue, Putin expressed his hopes for further military cooperation between the two countries. In a shorter response, Xi did not use the word “military”. However, he stressed that China is “ready to strengthen strategic cooperation with Russia”, stating that the world is in “a difficult situation”.

Unlike most Western countries, China has not imposed sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Xi has so far refused to condemn Russia’s actions. In September, when Putin and Xi Jinping met in Uzbekistan for the first time since the war began, he didn’t insult “Ukraine.” However, this year he has repeatedly called for peace and a diplomatic solution to the conflict. On Friday, he also stressed to Putin that China is sticking to its “objective and honest stance” on the war. “Both sides must respect the authority of the United Nations and the status of international law,” Xi said, quoted by Chinese state media.

Behind the scenes, however, China would indeed seek rapprochement with Russia to build a broad coalition against Western hegemony. For example, prominent Chinese politician Li Zhanshu also told Russia’s lower house, the State Duma, in September that “the United States and NATO nailed Russia right to her doorstep.” He also showed sympathy for Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine, because “Russia’s national security and the life and safety of the people” were at stake. The comments emerged via recordings made by the Russian channel Duma TV.