Chinese President Xi Jinping assured his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of Beijing’s support for Moscow on “sovereignty and security” during a call on Wednesday, according to state media.
China is “willing to continue offering mutual support (to Russia) on issues related to core interests and major concerns such as sovereignty and security,” Xi was quoted as saying by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
It was the second reported call between the two leaders since Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
China has refused to condemn Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and has been accused of providing diplomatic cover for Russia by criticizing Western sanctions and arms sales to Kyiv.
According to CCTV, Xi hailed the “good momentum of development” in bilateral relations since the beginning of the year “in the face of global turmoil and changes.”
Beijing was willing to “intensify strategic coordination between the two countries,” Xi reportedly said.
The Kremlin said the two leaders agreed to increase economic cooperation in the face of “illegal” Western sanctions.
“It was agreed to expand cooperation in the energy, financial, industrial, transport and other areas, taking into account the situation of the world economy that has become more complicated due to the West’s illegal sanctions policy,” the Kremlin said later. of the statement. phone call.
The West has adopted unprecedented sanctions against Russia in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine and Moscow believes that Europe and the United States have thus caused a global economic slowdown.
Moscow is also looking for new markets and suppliers to replace major foreign companies that left Russia after the invasion.
– Relationship ‘without limits’ –The European Union and the United States have warned that any backing by Beijing for Russia’s war in Ukraine, or helping Moscow circumvent Western sanctions, would damage ties.
China and India are two major economies that have not taken part in the retaliatory measures against Moscow for its invasion.
In the eyes of Chinese officials, the Europeans have been sucked into backing Ukraine, at the initiative of Washington, in a move contrary to their interests as consumers of Russian gas.
Once staunch Cold War enemies, Beijing and Moscow have intensified cooperation in recent years as a counterweight to what they see as US global dominance.
The two countries have grown closer in the political, commercial and military spheres as part of what they call a “boundless” relationship.
The two sides last week unveiled the first road bridge linking the two countries, connecting the Russian far eastern city of Blagoveshchensk with the northern Chinese city of Heihe.
Wednesday’s call between the two leaders coincided with Xi’s 69th birthday and was their first reported communication since the day after Russia launched the invasion of its European neighbor.
Xi, who described Putin as an “old friend,” also invited his Russian counterpart to the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics in early February.
Beijing is Moscow’s biggest trading partner, with trade volumes last year reaching $147 billion, according to Chinese customs data, an increase of more than 30 percent from 2019.
