The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, stated this Tuesday, 4th, that safeguarding, consolidating and developing relations with Russia constitutes a “strategic choice” for both countries, during a meeting with the Russian Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishustin, in Beijing.
Xi highlighted that bilateral cooperation “has advanced with determination, despite a turbulent external environment” and expressed willingness to align China’s 15th Five-Year Plan with Russia’s economic and social development strategies, in order to “promote growth of a higher quality and level”, according to Chinese state television CCTV.
The Chinese leader, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party, called for “close coordination” and the implementation of consensus reached with Russian President Vladimir Putin to “expand the pie of cooperation” and contribute to global development and world peace.
Xi also called for strengthening exchanges between the people and social sectors of the two countries and consolidating partnerships in areas such as energy, agriculture, connectivity and aerospace industry, in addition to exploring new fronts of cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital economy and green development.
Mishustin conveyed Putin’s greetings and expressed Moscow’s willingness to deepen economic, scientific and technological cooperation with Beijing, following the consensus reached by the two heads of state.
The meeting took place a day after Mishustin met with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang in Hangzhou (east), where he stated that ties between Moscow and Beijing “continue to prosper despite the West’s illegal sanctions”.
Mishustin participates this week in the 30th ordinary meeting between the heads of government of the two countries, focused on strengthening energy, commercial and technological cooperation, at a time when China and Russia are deepening their alliance in the face of pressure from the United States and the European Union.
In February 2022, shortly before the invasion of Ukraine, Xi and Putin proclaimed in Beijing an “unlimited friendship” between the two countries.
Since then, both have defended that the partnership “does not threaten any country” and contributes to the construction of a multipolar world, while at the same time intensifying exchanges.
Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, Beijing has maintained an ambiguous position, calling for respect for the “territorial integrity of all countries”, including Ukraine, and attention to the “legitimate concerns of all countries”, in a reference to Russia.
China also opposes “illegal unilateral sanctions” against Moscow, considering that they “do not solve the problems”.