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Xi will visit Russia from March 20-22
March 19 () –
Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted China’s “balanced” position on Sunday regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine and highlighted the growing ties between the two parties.
“We value the balanced position adopted by China on the events in Ukraine and also its understanding of the historical context and its root causes,” Putin said in an article published in the ‘People’s Daily’, a Chinese government newspaper.
In addition, Putin has expressed his satisfaction with “China’s willingness to make contributions to the resolution of the crisis.” “As our friends in China, we defend strict compliance with the UN Charter, respect for norms and International Law, including International Humanitarian Law,” stressed the Russian leader.
“We defend the principle of indivisibility of security that is flagrantly violated by the NATO bloc. We are very concerned about the irresponsible and blatantly dangerous actions that threaten nuclear security. We reject illegitimate unilateral sanctions and they must be withdrawn,” he added.
In this sense, Putin has stressed that “Russia is open to the political and diplomatic resolution of the Ukrainian crisis.” Thus, he has pointed out that “it was not Russia that broke off the peace negotiations in April 2022.” “The future of the peace process depends only on the willingness to commit to a debate that takes current geopolitical realities into account,” he argued before reproaching Kiev for “the ultimatum nature of the requirements put forward.”
Regarding the relationship with China, Putin has highlighted the “unprecedented level of trust”, the bilateral strategic cooperation and the “special nature of the Russia-China partnership”.
The next visit of the Chinese president, Xi Jingpin, to Moscow is part of this relationship. “We have no doubt that the upcoming talks will give a powerful new impetus to our bilateral cooperation,” Putin said. “It’s also a great opportunity for me to see my good old friend, with whom I enjoy the warmest relationship,” he wrote.
“Unlike other countries that claim to be hegemonic and sow discord in global harmony, Russia and China are literally and metaphorically building bridges. Two new bridges were built on the Amur River last year,” Putin recalled.
Instead, it blames the United States for its policy of simultaneous deterrence with respect to Moscow and Beijing. “The security architecture and international cooperation is being dismantled. Russia has been described as an ‘immediate threat’ and China as a ‘strategic competitor’,” she recalled.
Putin has highlighted that in 2022 bilateral trade has doubled to reach 185,000 million dollars, “a new record”, and could reach 200,000 million this year.
“It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Russia-China Siberian gas pipeline has become the ‘deal of the century’ due to its dimensions (…). Our specialists are involved in the construction of new nuclear power plants in China and Chinese companies are involved in natural gas projects. Our industrial and agricultural cooperation is strengthened and together we explore outer space and develop new technologies,” he said.
Xi will make an official visit to Russian territory between March 20 and 22 as part of the deepening of bilateral ties and after Beijing presented a peace plan to end the conflict in Ukraine.
The Government of China proposed several weeks ago a peace plan for Ukraine made up of twelve proposals in an effort to provide a political solution to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in which it called for a ceasefire on both sides and defended territorial integrity. from all countries.
