BEIJING (AP) – Chinese leader Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday as the Kremlin began a two-day state visit. new attack In Ukraine, close ties between autocratic leaders were emphasized.
After Putin arrived at dawn, he was received by Xi with full military honors at the Great Hall of the People, a huge ceremonial legislative building located off Tiananmen Square in the heart of the capital Beijing.
In the ensuing meeting, President Xi congratulated Putin on his election. 5th term It also celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the former Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China after the former Soviet Union seized power in the 1949 civil war. Putin faces no credible opposition in the presidential election, and like Xi, he has not faced any credible opposition in the presidential election thus far. Revealed his plans regarding his potential successor.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, President Xi said the two countries were deepening their relationship as “good neighbors, good friends and good partners,” adding that the two countries signed the “Secret Union” agreement signed in 2022, just before Russia began a full-fledged military alliance. He reiterated his commitment to a relationship with no limits. Invasion of Ukraine.
Since then, Russia has increased its economic dependence on China as Western sanctions cut off its access to the international trading system.
On the eve of his visit, Putin said in an interview with Chinese media that the Kremlin was ready to negotiate over the Ukraine conflict. “We are open to dialogue on Ukraine, but such negotiations must take into account the interests of all countries involved in the conflict, including our country,” Putin said, according to state news agency Xinhua.
The Russian leader’s visit comes as the country’s military pushes ahead with an offensive in northeastern Ukraine’s Kharkiv region that began last week, making it the largest border incursion since the start of a full-scale invasion and forcing about 8,000 people to flee their homes. This was done under pressure.
The two-year war has entered a critical phase for Ukraine’s exhausted military, along with Moscow’s efforts to further consolidate its gains in the nearby Donetsk region. waiting for new supply Anti-aircraft missiles and artillery shells from the United States.
“We have never refused negotiations,” Putin said, according to Xinhua news agency. “We seek a comprehensive, sustainable and just resolution to this conflict by peaceful means. We are open to dialogue on Ukraine, but such negotiations do not involve any involvement in the conflict involving our country. We need to take into account the interests of all countries.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said any negotiations must include restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity, withdrawing Russian troops, releasing all prisoners of war, bringing those responsible for the invasion to justice, and ensuring Ukraine’s security. .
China claims to be neutral in the conflict, but despite President Vladimir Putin’s declaration that he wants to restore century-old borders with Russia as the reason for the attack, Russia has It supports Moscow’s claim that it was provoked into attacking Ukraine.
Putin blamed the West for failed negotiations in the early weeks of the war and praised China’s peace plan for Ukraine, which allows Russia to consolidate its territorial gains.
“The Chinese government refrains from pursuing vested interests and the constant escalation of tensions, and proposes viable and constructive measures to minimize the negative impact of conflicts on the global economy and achieve peace,” he said. “There is,” he said.
Putin said China’s 2023 proposal, rejected by Ukraine and the West, was “the basis for a political and diplomatic process that takes Russia’s security concerns into account and contributes to achieving long-term and sustainable peace.” There is a possibility of building a
The Kremlin said in a statement that Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will “discuss in detail all issues related to comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation and seek new directions to further develop cooperation between the two countries” during their meeting this week. I will decide.” Russia and China also hold detailed exchanges on the most serious international and regional issues. ”
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addressed the upper house of Russia’s parliament on Tuesday, saying that Russia and China are “objectively interested in maintaining the initiative in efforts to establish a more just and democratic world order.” .
“Russia and China are not the only countries working to reform the international system and establish a multipolar world order,” he said.
“The Moscow-China duo plays an important balancing role in world affairs,” Foreign Minister Lavrov said, adding, “The Russian president’s upcoming visit (to China) will strengthen our joint work.” added.
As the war enters its third year, Moscow has forged increasingly close ties with China, redirecting the bulk of its energy exports to China and buying high-tech components for Russia’s military industry to avoid Western sanctions. It relies on Chinese companies for imports.
Military relations between Russia and China have also been strengthened. The two countries have held a series of joint wargames in recent years, including naval exercises and long-range bomber patrols in the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. Russian and Chinese ground forces are also deployed to each other’s territory for joint exercises.
While China remains a major market for the Russian military, its domestic defense industry has also expanded significantly, including the construction of aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines.
President Putin has previously said that Russia shares highly sensitive military technology with China, which has helped significantly strengthen its defense capabilities. In October 2019, he said Russia was helping China develop an early warning system to detect ballistic missile launches. The system includes ground radar and satellites owned only by Russia and the United States.
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Mr. Bourdain reported from Taipei.
