Xi-Putin meeting in Moscow signals New Era in Russia China Relations

The two leaders called for “responsible engagement” to end the Ukraine conflict, while Chinese President Xi Jinping claimed to have signed an agreement with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin moving bilateral relations into a “new era” of collaboration.

After talks with Putin in the Kremlin on Tuesday, Xi stated, “We inked a statement on enhancing the strategic partnership and bilateral ties which are entering a new era.”

In order to advance greater “practical cooperation,” he further stated that China and Russia should cooperate more closely.

Putin responded that “all agreements have been reached” and that Moscow and Beijing’s economic cooperation was a “priority” for Russia.

Days after Putin received an arrest warrant from the ICC for crimes committed in the neighbouring nation, where Russian forces have made little headway in recent months despite incurring significant losses, the Chinese leader paid a visit to Moscow.

The discussions were meant to solidify the “no limits” alliance the two leaders declared in February of last year, fewer than three weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine.

Beijing “guided by the ideals of the United Nations… and encourage a peaceful conclusion,” the Chinese leader remarked in reference to the situation in Ukraine.

We always support discussion and peace, he continued.

In an unified declaration, the West was accused of engaging in well-known practises such undermining global stability and invading the Asia-Pacific area with NATO.

Putin stated that a peace settlement might be built on a Chinese proposal to stop the conflict, but that Kyiv and the West were not yet prepared.

Several elements of the Chinese peace plan, in our opinion, are in line with Russian positions and can serve as the foundation for a peaceful resolution when Western nations and Kyiv are prepared for it. But as of yet, we have not observed any such readiness on their part,” stated Putin.

China’s 12-point plan for a temporary cease-fire in Ukraine lacked specifics on how to implement it.

Given Beijing’s failure to denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States has dismissed the proposal and claimed that a cease-fire would lock in Russian territory gains and give Putin’s army more time to reorganise.

The White House responded to the meeting by claiming that China’s attitude was not impartial and urging Beijing to put pressure on Russia to leave the sovereign territory of Ukraine in order to put an end to the war.

Putin welcomed the expanding trade, energy, and political relations between China and Russia after the meeting with Xi and charged that Western forces were fighting “to the last Ukrainian.”

Xi restated China’s “neutral posture” on Ukraine and appealed for discussion, describing his conversations with Putin as “open and amicable.”

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Kiev had asked Beijing to join a Ukrainian peace plan to halt Russia’s war in Ukraine, but it was still awaiting a response.

Putin praised the “prosperity” of the Russian and Chinese peoples at a formal supper that took place after the talks.

He asserted that there were “really infinite potential and prospects” for Russian-Chinese collaboration.

When Putin faces battle against what he perceives as a hostile West determined to hand Russia a “strategic defeat,” Xi’s official visit was a huge boost for him.

While Tuesday’s deal was not an alliance, Samuel Ramani, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), told Al Jazeera that it was “quite evident that China and Russia are working on a lot of fronts.”

The Japanese prime minister made a rare, unannounced visit to Kyiv at the same time as Xi and Putin’s meeting, underscoring Tokyo’s support for Kyiv in its struggle against Russia’s invasion.

Greeting Fumio Kishida of Japan, whom Zelenskyy described as “a very powerful supporter of the international order and a lifelong friend of Ukraine,” the Ukrainian leader uploaded video of the encounter on social media.