Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that relations between the two countries have become a good example for other countries in the world. Putin has arrived in China on his first foreign visit, days after being re-elected to power for the fifth time. Welcoming Putin on a two-day visit, Xi said it was wonderful to celebrate the 75th anniversary of China-Russia diplomatic relations. “This relationship has become a good example for neighboring countries to treat each other with respect and candor, and to pursue friendship and mutual benefit,” he said, without mentioning Russia-Ukraine.
Xi and Putin have met more than 40 times
The US and the EU are pressuring China to withdraw its support for Russia in the Ukraine war. Xi said he and Putin have met more than 40 times during the talks, discussing strategic issues that have ensured the strong, stable and smooth development of relations. “China-Russia relations have been built with hard work and need to be further enhanced by both sides,” Xi said. “The stable development of China-Russia relations is not only in the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, but also conducive to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world,” the Chinese president said.
‘Relations between Russia and China are not opportunistic’
In his speech, Putin addressed Xi as ‘my dear friend’. “It is of fundamental importance that relations between Russia and China are not opportunistic and not directed against anyone,” he said. “Our cooperation in global affairs today serves as one of the main stabilizing factors in the international arena,” Putin said, according to a report by Russian news agency Tass. Putin also said that Russia is ready for talks on Ukraine.
‘Ready for talks on Ukraine’
“We are ready for talks on Ukraine, but such talks should take into account the interests of all countries involved in the conflict besides ours,” Putin said, according to China’s official Xinhua news agency. “Russia and China are successfully cooperating at the UN, BRICS, SCO and G20,” Putin said. “We will strengthen integration processes in the Eurasian region to combine the potential of the ‘Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)’,” Putin said. Determined to make it more harmonious.
A large delegation is with Putin
Russian news agency Tass reported that Putin brought a large delegation that included five deputy prime ministers, the heads of economic, diplomatic and security agencies, as well as the heads of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, Russian Railways, Rostom Atomic Energy Corporation and Roscosmos State The heads of the Corporation for Space Activities are included.