The Chinese president greeted the Russian president at the Great Hall of the People and began two days of talks on the war in Ukraine, the Middle East conflict, and cooperation in the economic and defense fields.
“This partnership is definitely an example of what relations between neighboring countries should be,” Putin said. “Our cooperation in today’s world situation is one of the main stabilizing factors on the world stage,” he added, ignoring his role in ordering a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
Xi said China was ready to cooperate with Russia to “protect fairness and justice in the world.” “Today’s China-Russia relationship was built through hard work, and both countries need to cherish and nurture it.”
President Putin is accompanied on this visit by senior officials, including new Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who is currently Secretary of the Security Council.
The talks are expected to focus on expanding defense cooperation between Russia and China. Analysts expect the meeting to discuss how to weather Western sanctions, which have hurt Russia’s economy.
Putin said the two countries were “deepening peaceful nuclear cooperation” but gave no further information.
Referring to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, Putin expressed gratitude to Xi and China for “the work they are doing to bring this issue under control.”
He added that the two sides agreed to discuss foreign policy and the “Ukraine crisis” in private talks Thursday night.
