Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Chinese head of state and party leader Xi Jinping on a state visit to Moscow in the spring. In a video link with Xi Jinping posted on the Kremlin website on Friday, Putin said that Russian-Chinese relations were becoming increasingly important as a stabilizing factor and that he intended to deepen military cooperation.
“Next year, intense bilateral exchanges will continue, I have no doubt about that. And we will find a way to meet in person,” Putin said. This visit “will demonstrate to the world the closeness of Russian-Chinese relations.”
Xi spoke half as long as Putin
Speaking much more briefly, Xi said China is ready to step up strategic cooperation with Russia amid a “difficult” situation in the world at large. China will maintain its “objective and fair” stance on the war in Ukraine. The road to peace talks will be bumpy, Xi said in the video conference, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Beijing and Moscow must closely coordinate and cooperate on international issues. While Putin’s introductory speech lasted about eight minutes, Xi spoke less than half that time.