First meeting between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin in Moscow

Chinese President Xi Jinping begins his visit to Russia on Monday. The three-day state visit to a country with important diplomatic and economic ties to China is the first by a Chinese leader to its neighbor in nearly four years.

In an article published in a Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya GazetaXi Jinping presented his visit as a “JOURNEY OF FRIENDSHIP, COOPERATION AND PEACE”.

The Chinese President and Vladimir Putin will meet face-to-face for the first time “informal” Before dinner on Monday, and then discussions on Tuesday, Kremlin diplomatic adviser Yuri Ochakov said. “I look forward to working with President Putin to adopt a new vision together.” Bilateral relations, especially Mr. Xi writes.

On the strength of the recent diplomatic rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, China is positioning itself as a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine war and specifically calling for peace talks between Moscow and Kiev.

In an article published Monday in a Chinese daily, Vladimir Putin congratulated him, “China’s willingness to play a constructive role in the solution” of conflict and believe it “Russian-Chinese relations have reached the highest level in their history”.

China has not publicly condemned Russia’s invasion, criticizing the United States for supplying weapons to Ukraine and NATO for failing to address Russian security concerns. However, Beijing is calling for dialogue and respect for the territorial integrity of all states – therefore including Ukraine.

“No country should dictate the international order”Xi Jinping wrote in an article published in a Russian newspaper. “China has always maintained an objective and impartial stance on the essence of the issue and has actively promoted peace talks. » China has quietly supported Russia’s aggression, a position considered too lukewarm by many Western countries.

Kyiv is following the visit with fears that Beijing may eventually decide to supply arms to Moscow, potentially affecting the outcome of the war. But according to the American Journal Wall Street JournalXi Jinping may once again meet with Ukrainian representative Volodymyr Zelensky in China in the name of his country’s demonstrated neutrality.