It is the first meeting between the two leaders since the Russian attack on Ukraine.
Berlin, Beijing, Riga, Samarkand Only a few meters separate Chinese head of state and party leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at their first meeting since February. At the first meeting of the two heads of state since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it also becomes clear that the closeness between the two heads of state is not intimate, but at least from a Russian point of view it is far greater than to the guests that Putin has welcomed in recent months his now famous six meter long table.
Heads of state demonstrated unity at Thursday’s meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, which took place on the sidelines of the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. Her comments on Ukraine and Taiwan in particular were eagerly awaited.
Regardless of the international outrage at the violation of international law Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the economic sanctions imposed, Xi Jinping continues to give the Russian President political backing.
China has adopted the Russian line of argument, blaming the US and NATO as the main culprits in the conflict. It had condemned Western sanctions against Russia and showed understanding for Putin’s actions. The Kremlin chief also noted China’s “concerns” about the war in Ukraine and praised China’s president’s “balanced” stance on the war. At the meeting with Xi, Putin went on to say that he hopes for a new impetus to deepen the Russian-Chinese partnership.
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According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, Xi stressed that China is ready to “strongly support” the Russian side in its core interests. The People’s Republic wants to embody the role of a great power, play a leading role and bring stability to a world in transition.
Common themes at the meeting
With regard to Taiwan, Putin emphasized that Russia supports China’s “one-country policy” and rejects Western “provocations”. He was referring to the tensions between the US and China, which have increased after the visit of Nancy Pelosi, President of the US House of Representatives, to Taiwan.
The large gap in the talks was only of a visual nature.
(Photo: via REUTERS)
Xi welcomed the Russian stance. China regards the democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory and cracks down on countries that have ties to the island republic. Since February, observers have regularly expressed concern that China could use Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a model for a potential attack on Taiwan.
According to Russian information, Putin and Xi also raised another common issue: US and EU sanctions pressure due to aggressive behavior by Russia and China towards their neighbors.
Beijing has never joined international sanctions against the Kremlin regime over the incursion of Russian troops into Ukraine, preferring to remain neutral on the issue. At the same time, Russia and China recently held joint military exercises.
Reservations about Russia?
The demonstrated unity between the two heads of state is in the context of their not uncomplicated relationship. After years of economic rapprochement, the Russian attack on Ukraine is posing new problems for bilateral relations.
international humanitarian law
The fact that Xi had already traveled to neighboring Kazakhstan in the run-up to the summit to meet President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and agree on greater cooperation on the security and defense levels is evidence of reservations about Russia.
In the past, Russia had repeatedly questioned Kazakhstan’s state sovereignty, and since the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine, Kazakhstan has been increasingly moving away from Russia.
In an article written by Xi, he pledged to “defend common security” with Kazakhstan. On Thursday morning he underpinned this stance in talks with the heads of state of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan – each without the presence of Russia.
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According to CCTV, in the talks with Xi, Putin agreed to work with China to promote cooperation among SCO member states based on “the principle of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs” and provide a platform for maintaining the create regional security and stability.
Both presidents last met shortly before the start of the war for the opening of the Winter Olympics in Beijing in early February and vowed their “boundless” friendship.
With agency material
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