Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to work with Russian President Vladimir Putin to “rejuvenate” their countries as the two leaders began a day of talks in Beijing. Xi emphasized that China would “always be a good partner” to Russia, according to Chinese state media.
“The China-Russia relationship today is hard-earned, and the two sides need to cherish and nurture it,” Xi told Putin during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
“China is willing to jointly achieve the development and rejuvenation of our respective countries and work together to uphold fairness and justice in the world,” Xi said.
China and Russia declared a “no limits” partnership in February 2022 when Putin visited Beijing, just days before he sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine, triggering the deadliest land war in Europe since World War II.
By choosing China for his first foreign trip since being sworn in for a six-year term that will keep him in power until at least 2030, Putin is signaling his priorities and the strength of his personal ties with Xi.
During their meeting, Putin told Xi that their cooperation was a stabilizing factor. “It is of crucial significance that relations between Russia and China are not opportunistic and are not directed against anyone,” Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency cited Putin as saying.
