Putin and Xi Signal Deeper Ties in Beijing, Sharpen Criticism of the West
Beijing, China – Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed a strengthening partnership during a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday, declaring their relationship had reached an “unprecedented level” as they gathered for events commemorating the 79th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. The meeting underscores a growing alignment between the two nations amidst escalating tensions with the West.
The leaders’ discussions took place ahead of a large-scale military parade on Wednesday expected to draw over two dozen heads of state, including north korean leader Kim Jong-un. south Korean officials anticipate Kim will hold bilateral talks with both Putin and Xi during the summit.
Putin, invoking shared past ties, emphasized the enduring nature of the russia-China alliance. “We were always together then,and we remain together now,” he stated,highlighting the “strategic nature” of the current partnership. Xi echoed this sentiment, asserting that China-Russia relations have “withstood the test of international changes” and expressing Beijing’s willingness to collaborate with Moscow in forging a “more just and reasonable” global order.
the Beijing summit has also served as a platform for both leaders to voice criticism of Western policies. Xi reportedly denounced “bullying behavior,” widely interpreted as a rebuke of the United States, while Putin defended Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, blaming Western governments for fueling the conflict.
Beyond diplomatic signaling, the two countries are deepening economic ties. Russian state media reported new agreements between gazprom and China’s national energy company to increase gas supplies by approximately 15%. This builds upon the “no limits” partnership announced in early 2022, shortly before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and signals a continued commitment to expanded energy cooperation.
while Beijing maintains a public stance of neutrality regarding the war in Ukraine, Western governments view China as a key enabler of Russia’s war effort. Concerns center on China’s purchases of discounted Russian energy and ongoing technology exchanges that mitigate the impact of international sanctions.
Further complicating the geopolitical landscape, reports from South Korean intelligence suggest North Korea is actively supporting Russia’s war, with an estimated 2,000 North korean soldiers reportedly killed in the conflict.
In a separate meeting on Tuesday, Putin also engaged with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose recent criticism of aid to Ukraine and resistance to reducing Russian energy imports have strained relations with othre European leaders. Putin reportedly suggested Slovakia retaliate against Ukrainian drone attacks on the Druzhba pipeline – a crucial artery for Russian oil imports – by cutting off energy supplies to Ukraine.
Keywords: Putin, Xi Jinping, china, Russia, Ukraine, War, Military Parade, Kim Jong-un, Gazprom, Energy, Sanctions, North Korea, Robert Fico, Slovakia, Druzhba Pipeline, World War II, Global Order.
