China’s Xi, Putin hold video talks, hail energy ties
According to reports in Chinese state media, Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks “via video”, praising the close ties of the two “countries” in energy and other “sectors”.
“Russia is China’s leading energy supplier, and our energy partnership is mutually beneficial and truly strategic,” Putin said during the talks, TASS reported. he said.
The Russian president added that Moscow and Beijing maintain an active dialogue on cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear energy and advance high-tech projects, including industrial and space exploration.
Speaking through a translator, Xi called on countries to prepare a “grand plan” to “advance bilateral relations” and said these plans were moving in the right direction.
China and Russia declared an “unlimited” strategic partnership days before Putin sent tens of thousands of soldiers to Ukraine in February 2022.
Xi and Putin last met in Beijing, when China held a massive military parade in September, attended by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
At the meeting, Xi said China-Russia relations “are based on international turmoil” and promised to coordinate with Moscow on issues “related to its core interests”.
Wednesday’s video calls came amid a series of meetings between Xi and Western leaders seeking to strengthen ties with China despite differences over Russia’s war in Ukraine. The prime ministers of Britain and Canada visited Beijing last month, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is also expected to visit later this month.
European leaders have been pressuring China for years to end its support for Russia. China continued to trade with Russia, providing some relief from Western economic sanctions.
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu traveled to Beijing last weekend and met with China’s top foreign policy official Wang Yi. The two officials agreed that their countries should maintain close relations in a turbulent world, state media reported.
Via Reuters and DPA
