China, Russia should pursue ‘close strategic coordination’: Xi to Putin

Chinese President Xi Jinping has told his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, both countries should employ “close strategic coordination” and firmly stand up against interference by external forces, particularly the United States.

In a phone call on Thursday, Xi told Putin that Beijing and Moscow “should closely collaborate strategically, defend the sovereignty, security and development interests of their respective countries, and resolutely oppose interference in internal affairs by external forces,” said a readout from Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

The Chinese president said China and Russia should also cultivate new dynamics of cooperation and maintain the stability of the industrial chain and supply chain.

Separately, Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said both leaders had rejected what they called US interference in the affairs of other countries.

According to Ushakov, Xi and Putin said their foreign policy would be aimed at creating “a multipolar, fairer world order.”

Putin’s top advisor said plans for reciprocal visits and personal meetings between Putin and Xi were out of the question for now, but added that they also discussed the situation in Ukraine and the resolution of conflict in West Asia.

According to a readout from the Kremlin, Putin, for his part, told Xi that ties between the two countries were at “an unprecedentedly high level.”

“In discussing the situation in the Asia-Pacific region, the Russian President reaffirmed his principled position on the Taiwan issue, which is to support the 'one China' policy.”

China has sovereignty over the Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) and under the “One China” policy, almost all world countries recognize that sovereignty.

The United States, too, recognizes the Chinese sovereignty over the self-ruled island. However, the US, which has long courted Taipei in an attempt to unnerve Beijing, infuriates China by selling weapons to the self-governed island in violation of its own official policy.

Russia has been under harsh sanctions by the US and its allies for the war in Ukraine since February 2022. The West is also highly critical of China for not condemning Moscow’s campaign in the ex-Soviet republic. Beijing insists its neutral stance toward the conflict in Ukraine.

MG