Amid growing uncertainty in world politics, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a “deepening” of the strategic relationship between the two countries in a meeting in Moscow on Thursday (May 8).
According to a report by CNN, the two leaders signed a joint statement in a grand ceremony after a four-hour meeting in the Kremlin, in which they announced the “elevation of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership into a new era.”
After the meeting, Putin said, “In the context of the current geopolitical crisis and global uncertainty, China-Russia foreign policy is a symbol of stability.”
Pointing to the recent trade war with the United States, Putin added, “We are working to build a fair and open world order with China.”
Xi Jinping said, “Russia and China are acting as a stable, positive and progressive force in the international community.”
Xi emphasized the two countries’ joint role in leading global governance and said that both countries must shoulder their responsibilities against “unilateralism and hegemony.”
The meeting comes at a time when global politics is volatile, and the United States, under the leadership of US President Donald Trump, has made changes to its traditional foreign policy.
Russia and China are strengthening their mutual relations in the context of the US-China trade war and the war in Ukraine.
After the meeting, Putin said that the goal of bringing about a “qualitative progress” in Russia-China trade and investment by 2030 has been set.
He also said, “Chinese technology and industrial experience are being transferred to Russia and Russia is now the largest importer of Chinese cars.”
China is currently Russia’s largest trading partner. China has given Russia a strong economic position in the face of Western sanctions. China is the largest buyer of Russian oil and gas.
After the meeting, the two countries signed more than 20 bilateral agreements. These include those on international law enforcement, biosecurity, investment protection, the digital economy, film cooperation, and quarantine inspections.
In addition to Xi Jinping, several other heads of state will visit Moscow to attend this week’s military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies over Nazi Germany in World War II.