MOSCOW: Chinese President Xi Jinping promised to further strengthen coordination with Russia at a Kremlin summit with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the first visit to Moscow after the beginning of Russia’s offensive in Ukraine.
Both countries seek allies to counteract Western power, and the two leaders are expected to sign economic cooperation agreements.
Putin called the negotiations “meaningful and frank” and said that Russia, which has been largely disassociated from European markets because of sanctions, would be able to fulfill China’s “growing demand” for energy.
“I propose strengthening bilateral coordination and cooperation,” Xi Jinping said between two rounds of talks in Moscow in footage shown on Russian state television.
Vladimir Putin said he was “convinced that our multi-level mutually beneficial cooperation will strengthen further.”
Neither leader mentioned the conflict in Ukraine, although the Kremlin said they would discuss China’s proposal to stop the fighting.
The Chinese leader’s Moscow visit has been considered a boost for Putin, who is subject to an International Criminal Court warrant over accusations of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children.
Xi earlier met with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and lauded Russia and China as “great neighbouring powers.”
Moscow and Beijing’s trade relations have boomed since Russia’s offensive in Ukraine, linking the nations more closely and raising worries in Western capitals over how far the ties will go.
Xi’s visit coincides with a surprise trip to Kyiv by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who visited Bucha. Russian troops were accused of committing atrocities during their occupation last year in this town.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry described the visit as “historic” and called it “a sign of strong cooperation and solidarity between (Ukraine and Japan).”
Putin says open to talks on Ukraine
On Monday, Putin and Xi held four and a half hours long talks, calling each other “dear friend.”
In a rare move, Putin escorted Xi Jinping to his car after the talks, and the two were seen smiling together.
During the meeting on Monday, the Russian leader said he was open to talks on Ukraine and praised China’s 12-point position paper on the conflict, which includes a call for talks and respect for all countries’ territorial sovereignty.
Another key focus for discussions will be energy ties.
Ahead of Tuesday’s summit, Russian gas giant Gazprom said that supplies to China through the Power of Siberia pipeline had reached a daily record on Monday.
Russia also announced that it was extending until the end of June oil production cuts of 500,000 barrels per day in response to Western sanctions that were about to expire at the end of March.
Xi’s visit began a day after Vladimir Putin travelled to Mariupol in eastern Ukraine, his first visit to the territory captured from Ukraine since the start of the offensive in February 2022.
China is presenting itself as a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict, but the United States has said Beijing’s moves could be a “stalling tactic” to help Russia.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Xi Jinping’s Moscow visit “suggests that China feels no responsibility to hold the Russian president accountable for the atrocities in Ukraine.”
“And instead of even condemning, China would rather provide diplomatic cover for Russia to continue great crimes,” he added.
The US has accused China of mulling arms exports to Moscow, claims Beijing has vociferously denied.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he would welcome talks with Xi, though there has been no indication from Beijing of such plans.
– Kishida in Kyiv –
In Ukraine, Kishida became the last Group of Seven leaders to visit the country. He expressed strong “indignation” during his visit to Bucha, which has become synonymous with accusations of Russian war crimes.
He has come under increasing pressure to make the trip as Japan hosts the grouping’s summit this May.
