China’s President Xi Jinping signed an agreement with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin bringing their ties into a “new era” of cooperation during his visit to Moscow. The two leaders also called for “responsible dialogue” to resolve the Ukraine crisis.
“We signed a statement on deepening the strategic partnership and bilateral ties which are entering a new era,” Xi said following talks with Putin in the Kremlin on Tuesday.
Xi stated that China and Russia should work together to push forward “practical cooperation”, while Putin said that “all agreements have been reached” and that economic cooperation between the two countries was a “priority” for Russia.
The signing ceremony, which took place on the second day of Chinese President Xi’s three-day visit to Moscow, was broadcasted on Russian state television from the Kremlin.
He held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in one-on-one and expanded circles of delegates during which both sides agreed to promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields and deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era based on the principles of good-neighborliness, friendship, and win-win cooperation.
The Chinese leader visited Moscow just days after an arrest warrant was issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Putin regarding crimes committed in Ukraine. This was the first country Xi visited after his re-election for a third term by the National People’s Congress
President Xi concludes the visit
Chinese President Xi Jinping completed his two-day state visit to Moscow and departed from Russia on Wednesday morning. A departure ceremony was held, including raising the Chinese and Russian state flags and playing their national anthems. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko saw off the Chinese leader.
China’s Plan to End Ukraine War
Earlier before Xi’s arrival in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin had said that the two sides will also be discussing Chinese President Xi Jinping’s 12-point plan to end the Ukraine war.
China had released a plan to end the war last month which called for “ceasing hostilities” and resuming peace talks, which according to the US, could be a “stalling tactic”.
“The world should not be fooled by any tactical move by Russia, supported by China or any other country, to freeze the war on its own terms.”US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said:
He cautioned that any ceasefire that doesn’t include the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory would support Russian conquest. The Chinese plan, however, does not specifically mention Russia’s withdrawal and instead emphasizes respecting the sovereignty of all countries.