Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin opened talks in Beijing on Tuesday. The meeting came one day before China’s largest-ever military parade. Both leaders stressed that their nations enjoy unprecedented ties.
Putin praised the partnership. “Dear friend, both I and the entire Russian delegation are pleased to meet once again with our Chinese colleagues. Our close communication shows the strategic nature of Russia-China relations. We were always together then, and we remain together now.”
Xi echoed this view. He said China-Russia relations had endured global changes. He added that Beijing wanted to work with Moscow to build a “more just and reasonable global governance system.”
The talks took place in the Great Hall of the People. The setting underlined the importance of their alliance. The meeting also allowed Xi to display Beijing’s role as a global power.
The parade on Wednesday will mark the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in China during World War Two. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will attend. This is his first multilateral international event. It is also the first time since 1959 that a North Korean leader has joined a Chinese military parade.
Xi and Putin later met Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh. These trilateral talks followed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin. At the summit, Xi urged members to oppose “Cold War thinking, bloc confrontation and bullying behaviour.” Putin said the SCO had set foundations for replacing “outdated Eurocentric and Euro-Atlantic models.”
Both leaders also criticised the West. Xi condemned “bullying,” a clear reference to the United States. Putin defended Russia’s war in Ukraine. He blamed the West for the conflict.
Beijing has not condemned the invasion. Western nations accuse China of helping Russia by supplying dual-use goods and buying discounted oil. Kim has also backed Moscow by sending weapons and troops.
With most Western leaders absent, the Beijing parade will spotlight new alliances. The presence of Putin and Kim highlights Beijing’s ambition to act as a diplomatic heavyweight in global affairs.
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