Photo: VALERY SHARIFULIN / AFP / Getty Images
The President of Russia , Vladimir Putin , and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping , met at a telematics summit, in which they exchanged views on United States , the NATO , the Winter Olympic Games and bilateral cooperation.
“Dear friend, I am very glad to see you,” he said. Putin in some images of the beginning of the videoconference, released by the Russian Presidency.
“My old friend, I am pleased to hold the second videoconference with you this year, ”Xi replied.
The Russian leader hoped to be able to discuss “thoroughly” during the summit with Xi the Russian-Chinese relations, the comprehensive partnership between the parties and their strategic cooperation. “I believe that our relations are a real example of interstate cooperation in the 21st century,” said the head of the Kremlin. Putin stressed that, despite the epidemic situation, the leaders of Russia and China are “in permanent contact” and recalled the video conference they held last June.
“A new model of cooperation between our countries has been formed based in particular on such pillars as non-interference in internal affairs, respect for mutual interests and the determination to turn the common border into a belt of eternal peace and of good neighborliness ”, he pointed out.
For his part, the Chinese president said that, although his country and Russia are not allies, the current state of their relationship “exceeds that level due to its effectiveness,” said Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov at a telephone press conference at the end of the summit.
According to Ushakov, Putin won Xi’s support at the meeting in his fight to obtain binding security guarantees from the West for Russia, in the context of his tensions with Ukraine.
Against “attempts to politicize sport and the Olympic movement”
Also, the Russian president hoped to meet with Xi in February 2022, when he will visit Beijing on the occasion of the opening of the Olympic Games in Winter, and showed his rejection of “attempts to politicize sport and the Olympic movement.” Putin thus referred to the diplomatic boycott of the JJs. OO. Beijing announced by countries such as United States, Canada, United Kingdom or Australia.
“I am confident that in February next year we will finally be able to meet in person in Beijing. As we have agreed, we will hold negotiations. And then we will participate in the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games, “said the head of the Kremlin.
He stressed that Russia and China support each other mutually in matters of international sports cooperation. “I have no doubt that the next Winter Olympics will be held at the highest level. In China they know how to do it, “said the Russian president.
In turn, Xi indicated, according to the Russian translation, that he is waiting “impatiently for the Olympic meeting” with Putin. “I am ready to move forward hand in hand with you, to open a new page together in Sino-Russian relations in the post-pandemic period,” said the Chinese president.
Increase in trade exchange
At the summit, Xi highlighted In addition, the increase in trade between Russia and China, which in the first nine months of the year reached $ 100, 000 million dollars, and thanked Moscow for resisting attempts to “drive a wedge” between China and Russia.
The summit between the leaders of Russia and China comes shortly after both leaders held telematic meetings with their US counterpart Joe Biden. The conversation between Biden and Xi took place last 15 November, while the virtual summit with Putin was held In the past week.
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