Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held high-level talks in Beijing on Wednesday, with both leaders praising the deepening strategic partnership between their countries amid global tensions and growing instability in the Middle East.
Xi personally welcomed Putin at the Great Hall of the People in the Chinese capital, where the two leaders walked together along a red carpet as military honors were presented and the national anthems of both countries were performed. The Russian president arrived in Beijing accompanied by a large delegation of ministers, officials and business representatives for a visit focused heavily on energy cooperation, trade and geopolitical coordination.
At the start of the meeting, Putin described relations between Moscow and Beijing as being at an “unprecedentedly high level” despite what he called “unfavorable external factors.” He stressed that cooperation between the two countries continues to expand in economics, politics and defense, adding that the partnership plays “a stabilizing role” in global affairs.
Xi, in turn, praised the “unyielding relationship” between China and Russia and said the two countries had continued to deepen political trust and strategic coordination “despite trials and tribulations.” According to Chinese state media, the Chinese leader also called for a “more just and reasonable” system of global governance.
