Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin Photo: Evgenia Novozhenina/AP
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the Kremlin on Wednesday for an official visit to strengthen Sino-Russian relations, which the two sides called a “partnership without borders” in 2022. According to Reuters, during his talks with Vladimir Putin, Xi called Russia a “reliable ally” and the Kremlin expects additional economic support from China.
The main results of the visit:
- The parties signed an updated investment agreement.
- Putin reiterated his interest in Chinese technology and thanked China for becoming a leading supplier of cars to Russia.
- Xi and Putin spoke out against “unilateral dictatorship” – an indirect reference to the US and the West.
Putin met Xi on the red carpet in one of the Kremlin’s most luxurious rooms. The ceremony was accompanied by the anthems of both countries. The two leaders met amid large-scale celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazism, which were not attended by Western leaders. Instead, Moscow is hosting representatives from China, Brazil, Serbia, Africa and the former Soviet Union.
Quotes of the day:
“Together with our Chinese friends, we are opposing the falsification of history and new forms of Nazism and militarism,” Putin said.
“Our partnership has become stronger, more stable and deeper in the new era,” Xi Jinping said.
According to the Kremlin, China remains Russia’s largest trading partner, actively buying oil and gas to compensate for losses from sanctions. Analysts see the visit as an attempt by Moscow to gain new diplomatic support amid the protracted war with Ukraine.
