Hong Kong Chinese (CNN) leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have broadly reaffirmed their shared alignment towards a host of the problems – and shared distrust of the United States – in a lengthy statement following talks between the two leaders in Moscow this week.
Their meeting, held in the shadow of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, left no doubt about Beijing’s determination to strengthen its relationship with Moscow, despite Putin’s increasing isolation on the global stage as his devastating war enters its second year.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the Kremlin in Moscow March 21, 2023.
It also failed to move the needle to bring this conflict to resolution.
Instead, Xi’s three-day visit to the Russian capital, which ended on Wednesday, was an opportunity for the two self-proclaimed “friends” to demonstrate their close personal relationship amid the pomp of a state visit — and how they might move forward in a world order that counteracting a world order that it believes is being led by Washington and its Democratic allies.
According to a Kremlin list, the meeting culminated in more than a dozen agreements to strengthen cooperation in areas ranging from trade and technology to state propaganda. The leaders’ key statement focused on how the two countries would “deepen” their relationship.
Xi’s visit was offset by another important diplomatic mission in the region.
Japanese Prime Minister and US ally Fumio Kishida landed in Ukraine on Tuesday to meet with Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelenskyy – further underscoring how the conflict in Europe has also deepened divisions in Asia.
Here’s what you need to know about the Xi and Putin meetings.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold talks at the Kremlin March 21, 2023 in Moscow, Russia.
No meaningful way forward in Ukraine
The meetings did not bring any breakthrough in resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
Both leaders called for a cessation of actions that “increase tensions” and “prolong” the war in Ukraine, according to their joint statement released by China’s Foreign Ministry. The statement failed to recognize that the Russian invasion and military attack was at the root of the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
The leaders also urged NATO to respect “the sovereignty, security and interests” of other countries — a reference that appears to reflect long-standing rhetoric from both countries, which falsely blame the Western security alliance for provoking Russia to invade.
In recent weeks, China appeared to be positioning itself as a peace broker, revealing its position on a “political solution” to the conflict by calling for a ceasefire and peace talks.
Putin said that “many of the provisions” could be taken “as a basis” for a peaceful solution in Ukraine “if the West and Kiev are ready,” he said in comments to reporters after Tuesday’s talks.
But the proposal was seen as a non-starter in the West and in Ukraine because it didn’t include a provision for Moscow to withdraw its troops from Ukrainian lands.
On Tuesday, Zelenskyy said a ceasefire would “simply freeze” the conflict and give Russia time to “prepare and come back with its only wish, the wish of its leader — to occupy our country.”
New world order and anti-US alignment
Experts say the propensity of China and Russia to build their alignment against the US – and a world order better suited to their own – is becoming more autocratic Agendas – drove the meeting, not interest in solving the Ukraine conflict.
As Xi left the Kremlin Tuesday night after a state dinner with Putin, his farewell message reiterated his view that global power dynamics are shifting.
“Together we should drive these changes that haven’t happened in 100 years. Take care of yourself, ”he said when he shook hands with Putin and alluded to it Xi sees an era where the West is fading and China is rising.
In their joint statement, the two authoritarian leaders called for promoting a “multipolar world” – a catchphrase for a system not guided by so-called Western values and rules – and vowed to work together to “protect the international system”. United Nations – where the two have a track record of blocking applications, including against actors like North Korea.
They also slammed Washington on several occasions – including saying they “urge the United States to cease undermining international and regional security and global strategic stability in order to maintain its own unilateral military superiority.”
Alexander Korolev, an international relations expert at the University of New South Wales in Australia, said the joint statement shows a “general convergence of Chinese and Russian worldviews and approaches to many international issues.”
“It’s very explicit and clear to identify the United States as a major security threat,” he said.
“Military Mutual Trust” and Defense Relations
Perceived threats from bodies like NATO and AUKUS – a security pact of Australia, the UK and the US – emerged as a clear focus for both leaders, including their impact on Asia.
Both Xi and Putin, in their joint statement, expressed “serious concerns” about NATO’s “continuous strengthening of military security ties with Asia-Pacific countries” and said they “reject external military forces that could defend peace and security.” undermine stability in the region”.
As China’s aggression in the South China Sea increased, the US has increased its presence in the Indo-Pacific and ties with regional allies.
Russia and China pledged to “further deepen mutual military trust” by increasing military exchanges and cooperation, and regularly organizing joint sea and air patrols.
The two countries have continued to conduct joint exercises around the world since the war began.
Economic and energy boost
Putin said on Tuesday Moscow is ready to support Chinese companies that are “replacing Western companies” that have left Russia since it began invading Ukraine.
Russia has become increasingly dependent on China as both an import market and an exporter of electronics after being hit with sweeping sanctions.
The partners appeared poised to expand energy trade, which has already surged over the past year, as Europe reduced its reliance on Russia’s key resource.
Both leaders also said they will “build a closer energy partnership and support companies from both countries to advance collaborative projects in oil, gas, coal, electricity and nuclear energy.”
In comments to the media, Putin added that further growth in Russian gas exports to China is being discussed, including “implementing the initiative to build the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline through the territory of Mongolia.”
Xi didn’t specifically mention the pipeline in his comments at the briefing, which Russia has touted as a replacement for the now-defunct Nord Stream 2 line, which supplies gas to Europe.
The joint statement mentioned working together to promote “research and consultancy” related to a “new China-Mongolia-Russia natural gas pipeline project.”
divided world
The look of the Moscow summit was in stark contrast to the concurrent meeting in Ukraine between Zelenskyy and Japanese leader Kishida.
Zelensky praised Kishida and other leaders who visited them for “showing respect” not only for Ukraine but “for the preservation and functioning of civilized rules and civilized life in the world.”
“Given Japan’s strength, its leadership in Asia in defending the peace and rules-based international order, and Japan’s responsibility as Chairman of the Group of Seven, our talks today can truly lead to a global outcome,” he said in a late-night address on Tuesday .
Xi has not spoken to Zelensky since the start of the Russian invasion, although a senior Ukrainian official told CNN on Tuesday that talks are underway between the two countries to set up a call between them on China’s proposed resolution, with “nothing concrete” planned may be.
But experts say the Xi meeting in Moscow — while supporting a rapprochement with Russia that China sees as crucial to weakening US global influence — could come at the expense of China’s other ties.
“(Xi’s visit) clearly places China-Russia ties above any type of other bilateral relationship China may have,” said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a professor of political science at Hong Kong Baptist University.
However, this “joint statement will not win (China) many friends in Europe,” he said, “because all of Europe is so mobilized behind Ukraine to try to kick the Russians out.”
CNN’s Nectar Gan, Wayne Chang, Matthew Chance, Darya Tarasova, Maria Kostenko, Xiaofei Xu and Anna Chernova contributed coverage.