According to the Kremlin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke over the phone on Thursday, reiterating their close diplomatic ties and criticising what they described as “U.S. interference” in other nations’ affairs.
According to Kremlin adviser Yury Ushakov, the two also talked about establishing a “multipolar, fairer world order” and how they would keep up “close personal interaction” going forward. This was stated during a press briefing on Thursday.
“No limits” cooperation was announced by China and Russia two years ago when Putin visited Beijing. Only a few days before Russia invaded Ukraine, that visit took place. According to Ushakov, there are currently no scheduled trips. Twice last year, the two leaders had face-to-face meetings.
The call is made during a time when sanctions have recently been placed on both nations. In response to violations of human rights committed against the predominantly Muslim Uyghur minority in China’s Xinjiang province, the United States and its allies have placed sanctions on Beijing. Due to its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia was sanctioned.
The two discussed how their economic contacts were expanding and that relations between China and Russia were at “an unprecedentedly high level,” according to a Kremlin summary.
As reported by the Reuters news agency, Chinese customs data indicates that trade between China and Russia reached $218.2 billion between January and November of 2023, fulfilling a target that was initially set for 2024.
Furthermore, Russia overtook Saudi Arabia as China’s primary supplier of crude oil last year, underscoring their strengthening energy relations at a time when other European nations are searching for alternatives to oil in the face of sanctions.
Ushakov stated during the briefing that this year will see the continuation of cooperative energy projects between China and Russia. He continued by saying that Xi and Putin discussed creating a “financial infrastructure that ensures the reliability of payments.” Using the Chinese yuan and the Russian ruble, both nations have strengthened commerce.
The two presidents talked about the escalating turmoil in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine during the call. Ushakov did not provide further details, but Reuters reports that he stated that the two leaders “see eye-to-eye” on these issues.
According to Ushakov, Russia also backs China’s Taiwan policies.
Similar remarks were made by Chinese official media, which said that Xi had discussed with Putin the need for close strategic contact between the two nations in order to protect their security and sovereignty and thwart outside meddling in their domestic affairs.
Xi was also quoted by Chinese official media as stating that China and Russia have “weathered many storms together.”