In a visit that also focused on trade, the Russian leader praised the partnership with China that guarantees energy security.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is wrapping up a visit to neighboring China, seeking greater support from Beijing for military operations in Ukraine and expanding trade critical to his country’s increasingly isolated economy. That’s what I’m aiming for.
Since the invasion of Ukraine, Russia and China have become increasingly aligned, with Beijing supporting Russia’s war effort while providing a critical economic lifeline with trade expected to reach $240 billion in 2023. rejects the Western claim.
Putin visited the northeastern city of Harbin on Friday, the last day of his two-day visit, to highlight “trade and cultural exchanges” between the two countries, China’s official Xinhua News Agency said.
On Thursday, President Putin arrived in Beijing on his first foreign trip since his re-election in March, meeting with President Xi Jinping in talks that positioned the two countries as stabilizing forces on the international stage.
Xinhua News Agency reported that the two leaders “had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine crisis,” adding that Xi spoke of China’s “consistent position and efforts to promote a political solution to the Ukraine issue.” .
China has not sent arms or ammunition to Russia, and a peace plan announced last year was criticized by both Ukraine and its Western allies.
Although Alexey Muravyev, a Russia expert and associate professor of national security and strategic studies at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, insists there are limits to the relationship between the two countries, there are limits. said.
“The limitation is that the two countries do not have a formal alliance agreement. To me, this is a very clear sign that there are limits to a seemingly limitless relationship,” he told Al Jazeera, adding that neither side He added that the two countries were not prepared to “promise to support each other unconditionally” on issues like Ukraine.
Xi said he would continue to work with Putin to “achieve steady and lasting progress, bring more benefits to the peoples of our two countries, and contribute to global security and stability.”
As the war in Ukraine escalates, Western countries are increasing pressure on China to cut aid to the Russian economy.
President Putin visited Harbin to promote trade relations. Located just a few hundred kilometers from the Russian border, Harbin has long served as an important hub for cross-border trade and cultural exchange.
On Friday, President Putin spoke at the opening ceremony of the Russia-China trade expo, praising the energy ties between the two countries and promising to “strengthen” them.
“Russia is ready and able to continue supplying China’s economy, businesses, cities and towns with affordable, environmentally friendly and clean energy,” he said.
He later told reporters that Russia’s offensive in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region was aimed at creating a buffer zone, but there were no plans to seize it.
Russian forces have continued to make steady advances in the northeastern border region since launching a new invasion last week. On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited the area and acknowledged that the situation remained “extremely difficult” but “largely under control.”
President Putin said that Russian troops are advancing daily according to the plan.
