President Vladimir Putin welcomed Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping to Moscow on Monday. The visit is a clear indicator that Russo-Chinese ties remain strong despite the West’s attempts to isolate Russia after it invaded Ukraine.
Summary
President Vladimir Putin welcomed Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping to Moscow on Monday. The visit is a clear indicator that Russo-Chinese ties remain strong despite the West’s attempts to isolate Russia after it invaded Ukraine.
- The trip is Xi’s first foreign visit since he was re-elected to a third term earlier this year and marks a strong show of support for Putin just days after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Putin’s arrest on war crimes charges.
- Xi and Putin greeted each other as “dear friend” at their meeting at the Kremlin on Monday. The visit will include a dinner later Monday and formal talks on Tuesday. Russian media is presenting the visit as a sign Russia still retains powerful friends despite hostility from the West.
- For the Chinese Communist Party, the visit helps demonstrate China’s emerging role as an international negotiator and peace broker. Just one week ago, China negotiated a thaw in relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, a surprising development that shook up Middle East politics.
- Xi and Putin both published written statements in each other’s state-run media in advance of the trip. Russia seeks to portray China as a full supporter of its invasion, while Xi is looking to stabilize their relationship and portray himself as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine.
- NBC News covered China’s desire to be seen as a global peacemaker as part of a plan to “promote a new international order that has Beijing at its center.” The visit coming shortly after the ICC warrant was issued for Putin also highlights the fact that Russia, China and the US have not joined the court or recognized its authority.
- The New York Times explained why China and Russia appear to be closer allies than ever. “China and Russia are not formal allies, meaning they have not committed to defend each other with military support. But the two countries are close strategic partners, a relationship that deepened during the war in Ukraine as Russia became increasingly isolated from many other countries. Chinese officials have said the current relationship is at a “historic high.””
- CBS News reported on Xi’s comments shortly after his arrival in the Russian capital. “I am confident that the visit will be fruitful and give new impetus to the healthy and stable development of China-Russia relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation in a new era,” Xi said.
- The Wall Street Journal reported Xi plans to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after he has talks with Putin. Zelensky has said that he welcomes any efforts by China to broker an end to the conflict, but Ukraine will not support an end to the conflict until the occupying Russian forces leave Ukrainian soil.
- Fox News covered Putin’s comments in an editorial published in the People’s Daily newspaper, an propaganda organ of the Chinese Communist Party. Putin wrote the West is “”persistently working to split the common Eurasian space into a network of ‘exclusive clubs’ and military blocs that would serve to contain our countries’ development.””
- National Review noted the visit comes as the conflict in Ukraine has stalemated on the eastern front and as Russian casualties continue to mount. As Jeff Zymeri wrote, “Observers view the three-day trip as an endorsement of the Russian leader in the face of broad condemnation for the Russian invasion. The countries have already referred to their partnership as one that has no limits. Xi’s visit serves as an opportunity to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the international arena.”
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© Dominic Moore, 2023
