BEIJING, Feb 4 (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin praised their relations during a video conference held on Wednesday, on the eve of the fourth anniversary of Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Putin said the relationship between Moscow and Beijing is an important stabilizing factor at a time of growing global turmoil, in a Russian state television broadcast of the conversation.
Xi, speaking through an interpreter, called on countries to “draw up a ‘grand plan’ to deepen bilateral relations, which he said were moving in the right direction.
Take advantage of the stock market rise!
China and Russia declared a ‘boundless’ strategic partnership days before Putin sends tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine in February 2022.
Since then, China has emerged as an economic lifeline for Russia, stepping up trade with its northern neighbor as Western powers impose sanctions on Moscow.
Xi and Putin last met in Beijing when China held a large military parade in September, which was also attended by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Continues after advertising
During that meeting, Xi said that relations between China and Russia ‘have withstood international turbulence’ and promised to coordinate with Moscow on issues relating to their core interests.
Ukraine and Europe have accused Beijing of providing direct military aid to Russia’s war efforts. Beijing denies the accusations and claims it is not a party to the conflict.
Senior diplomats from the two countries met in Beijing on Tuesday to discuss the global security situation and other issues and reached a ‘broad consensus’, China’s Foreign Ministry said.
(Reporting by Beijing Newsroom and Dmitry Antonov and Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow)
