Key Points
- Xi and Putin holds a video call, reaffirming strength of their bilateral relationship.
- Putin describes Moscow-Beijing partnership as a “stabilising factor” amid global unrest.
- Xi urged further China-Russia cooperation and long-term planning.
- Putin accepted invitations to visit China later this year.
ISLAMABAD: Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a video call on Wednesday in which both leaders praised the robust China-Russia relationship and agreed to expand cooperation in the face of global geopolitical turbulence, according to state media and international reporting.
In remarks carried on Russian state television, Putin described the Moscow-Beijing partnership as an important stabilising force at a time of mounting international uncertainty, highlighting close energy links and strategic alignment.
Xi, speaking via an interpreter in Beijing, called for the two countries to devise a “grand plan” to deepen ties, maintain frequent high-level contacts, and strengthen cooperation across diverse fields from economics to security.
The conversation took place as the world marks the approach of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
China and Russia declared a “no-limits” strategic partnership days before the conflict began in February 2022, a framework both leaders have repeatedly underscored as central to their bilateral engagement.
Putin accepted invitations to visit China later this year, including to attend key diplomatic events, reinforcing expectations of continued high-level dialogue between the two capitals.
The deepening partnership comes amid ongoing tensions with the United States and its allies.
Beijing has faced Western criticism for its economic and strategic support for Moscow, including expanded trade that has helped Russia weather sanctions imposed over the Ukraine war.
China denies direct military support but says it advocates peaceful resolution and respects national sovereignty.
Analysts say China and Russia share overlapping interests in countering US influence and promoting a multipolar international order, even as the relationship navigates occasional differences, such as on the precise handling of global crises and regional security issues.
