Xi Jinping called on China and Russia to trust one another

This has been reported by Chinese state sources.

During a meeting in Beijing, Xi Jinping emphasised that China and Russia must, through closer strategic cooperation, safeguard the legitimate interests of both states, uphold the unity of the Global South, and act as responsible major powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council. The official Chinese account also quotes his call for both sides to “trust and support one another and develop together”.

Xi also stated that Beijing and Moscow must firmly uphold multilateralism, work together to strengthen the role of the UN, and coordinate their actions within the SCO, BRICS and other international frameworks. Reuters and AP separately note that the Chinese leader described relations with Russia as “valuable” and emphasised their “stability and certainty” against the backdrop of a turbulent international situation.

In response, Sergey Lavrov, according to the Chinese side, spoke of the high level of Russian-Chinese relations, the momentum of trade and economic cooperation, and close interaction within the UN, SCO, BRICS and APEC. He also said that Russia was ready to work with China to implement the agreements reached by the leaders of the two countries and to uphold “international justice and fairness” for the sake of peace and stability.

Reuters reports that Lavrov’s visit to Beijing was linked not only to bilateral contacts but also to discussions on the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and coordination on international platforms. The agency also reported the day before that Lavrov and the Chinese side held talks on Iran, whilst Moscow publicly voiced its support for Tehran.

AP notes that Xi’s statement came against a backdrop of growing global instability and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, with Beijing seeking to position itself as a proponent of a multipolar world. Reuters adds that Xi conveyed greetings to Vladimir Putin and hinted that further contacts between the Chinese and Russian leaders could take place later this year.

As reported by ThePublic, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a meeting in Beijing with Chen Li-wen, leader of Taiwan’s largest opposition party, the Kuomintang. During the talks, he stated that Beijing would not allow Taiwan’s independence, whilst Chen Li-wen emphasised the importance of peace and her party’s readiness to restore relations with China should it return to power.

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