Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin as an “old friend” during their meeting in Beijing, highlighting the deepening partnership between the two nations.
Putin reciprocated the sentiment, addressing Xi as a “dear friend” and praising their countries’ ties as being at an “unprecedentedly high level”.
This meeting comes at a time when both nations face challenges from the United States, particularly over the Ukraine war and President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The two leaders’ talks were part of a series of meetings in Beijing, showcasing their strong rapport. According to Katrina Yu, “Putin and Xi seem to have a very warm, genuine rapport… It does seem that their friendship hasn’t been impacted at all by criticism from the US or Western European leaders”.
Their discussions also touched on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which Moscow and Beijing promote as a counterweight to Western-led alliances. Putin emphasized the need for a “system that would replace outdated Eurocentric and Euro-Atlantic models”.
During their meeting, Xi and Putin held a trilateral discussion with Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, highlighting shared interests in developing ties.
Putin noted that “our three countries have much in common,” while Xi stressed the importance of strengthening solidarity and cooperation in the face of a chaotic international situation.
“The more chaotic the international situation becomes, the more China, Russia and Mongolia should strengthen solidarity and cooperation, and increase mutual support,” Xi said.
The SCO meeting has demonstrated Global South solidarity and a push for a new global order. Xi Jinping told the summit that “global governance has reached a new crossroads,” in remarks seen as a critique of the US.
Before the end of his visit, Putin is expected to sign 20 deals increasing cooperation between Beijing and Moscow, further solidifying their partnership.
Their meeting precedes a significant military parade in Beijing, marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat and the end of World War II.
The parade will be attended by about two dozen world leaders, including North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
China aims to show strength and unity, sending a message to the West by hosting these leaders, who have been styled as “outcasts” by the US administration.
By rolling out the red carpet, China hopes to demonstrate that these nations are not isolated and do have friends and power.
Putin dismissed claims of Russia attacking deeper into Europe as “hysteria” and “horror stories”.
The historical context of their meeting is notable, given the Soviet Union’s role in World War II, including its assistance to China against Japanese forces and its declaration of war on Japan in the war’s final days.
This meeting between Xi and Putin underscores the strengthening relations between China and Russia, particularly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.
While China claims neutrality in the Ukraine war, it has provided economic support to Russia despite Western sanctions. Some Chinese companies have also been accused of aiding the Russian military industry.