Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in the Kremlin on Tuesday for official talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the Ukraine conflict a closely watched issue on the agenda.
Xi entered the Kremlin on a red carpet and was greeted by a military band and a delegation of top Russian officials including Putin, as the two countries seek allies to counter the Western power.
The Chinese leader’s visit to Moscow is seen as a boost for Putin, who is under Western sanctions and subject to a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over charges of illegally deporting Ukrainian children.
The Kremlin said the two leaders would discuss proposals put forward by China to end more than a year of fighting in Ukraine, and that the talks would likely end with Xi and Putin signing a package of agreements.
Xi met earlier with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and hailed Russia and China as “two great neighboring powers” on the second day of his visit to Russia.
Trade relations between Beijing and Moscow have blossomed since Russia’s crackdown on Ukraine, linking the two countries more closely and sparking concerns in Western capitals about just how far relations will go.
Xi, who said he invited Putin to visit China this year, said the Chinese government “will continue to give priority to the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia.”
“We are major neighboring powers,” Russian news agencies quoted him as saying during a meeting with Mishustin.
Xi’s visit coincides with a surprise visit to Kiev by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who visited Bucha, a town where Russian forces were accused of atrocities during their occupation last year.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry described the trip as “historic” and described it as “a sign of solidarity and strong cooperation between (Ukraine and Japan)”.
“constructive role”
On Monday, Xi and Putin held talks for four and a half hours, calling each other “dear friends.”
In a rare move, Putin escorted Xi to his car after the talks, and the two were seen smiling together.
During that meeting, the Russian president said he was open to talks on Ukraine and praised Beijing’s 12-point position paper on the conflict, which includes a call for dialogue and respect for the territorial sovereignty of all countries.
Xi and Putin are also expected to discuss boosting economic cooperation, with Russia boosting energy exports to China after it has mostly been excluded from European markets.
Ahead of the talks, Russian gas giant Gazprom said supplies through the Power of Siberia pipeline to China reached a daily record on Monday.
Xi’s three-day visit began a day after Putin traveled to Mariupol in eastern Ukraine, his first trip to territory captured from Kiev since the offensive began in February 2022.
China has sought to portray itself as a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict, but Washington said Beijing’s moves could be a “delaying tactic” to help Moscow.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Xi’s visit to Moscow “indicates that China feels no responsibility to hold the president accountable for the atrocities committed against Ukraine.”
“Instead of condemnation, it would be preferable to provide diplomatic cover for Russia to continue committing these major crimes,” he added.
The United States has accused Beijing of considering arms exports to Moscow, allegations that China has vehemently denied.
Zelensky said he would welcome talks with Xi, though there has been no indication from Beijing of any such plans.
Kishida in Kyiv
As part of Kishida’s visit to Kiev, he will offer “solidarity and support” in a meeting with Zelensky.
Kishida is the latest G7 leader to visit Ukraine and has come under increasing pressure to make the trip, as Japan hosts the group’s summit in May.
Japan and China are close trading partners, but Tokyo has been increasingly concerned about Beijing’s growing assertiveness in the region.
Japan is part of the US-led security alliance known informally as the Quad, which also includes India and Australia, and is positioning itself as a bulwark against China’s military ambitions in the Asia-Pacific.
Moscow and Beijing have strengthened cooperation over the past years, driven by a desire to counterbalance America’s global hegemony.
And while Beijing has called for “neutral” mediation in the conflict, Western countries have argued that China’s proposals are heavy on grand principles but light on practical solutions.
The United States said last week that China’s proposals would simply reinforce the “Russian invasion” and allow the Kremlin to prepare for a new offensive.
China and Russia have often worked closely on the United Nations Security Council, wielding veto power as permanent members of the council to counter the West.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine also deepened fears among Western powers that China might one day try to take control of the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory.
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