Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Moscow on Monday, with Xi seeking to deepen economic ties with his “cherished” ally and promote China’s potential role as a peacemaker in Ukraine. Xi’s visit comes at a crucial time, as Russia faces heightened tensions with the West and an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia during its invasion of Ukraine.
The leaders greeted each other warmly as “dear friend” before their formal talks on Tuesday. Putin expressed his admiration for China’s effective economic system and the country’s rapid development in recent decades. Meanwhile, Russia is using Xi’s visit as evidence of having a powerful ally in its standoff with the West.
For Xi, the visit is a diplomatic balancing act, as China has released a 12-point proposal to solve the Ukraine crisis while strengthening its relationship with Moscow. The warrant issued against Putin by the ICC for the deportation of Ukrainian children has been viewed by Beijing as a display of double standards.
Xi’s visit to Russia marks his first since securing his third term as president. With tensions high and the stakes even higher, the world watches with bated breath as these two leaders navigate the choppy waters of international politics.
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