Putin, Xi Emphasise Close Russia-China Ties Hours After Trump’s Inauguration

Xi expresses readiness to work with Putin in the year ahead to take China-Russia relations to new heights

Tue Jan 21 2025
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KEY POINTS

  • Putin and Xi discuss cooperation on global stability and a multipolar world order.
  • The call signals potential coordination in dealing with the new US administration.
  • Trump threatened tariffs on China and urged Russia while expressing openness to dialogue.
  • Putin and Xi underscore their partnership’s role in fostering global stability and reforming the international system.

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping emphasised their deepening cooperation during a video call on Tuesday, hours after Donald Trump’s inauguration as the United States president.

Trump has vowed a hard line on Washington’s adversaries since taking office, threatening heavy tariffs on Beijing and warning Moscow of “big trouble” if it does not settle the Ukraine conflict.

While neither leader directly mentioned Trump in the televised fragment of their call, the timing of the conversation may signal that Putin and Xi want to coordinate their action in dialogue with the new US administration.

The Chinese president had a call with Trump on Friday and expressed hope for positive ties with the US.

Putin, who is yet to talk to Trump, congratulated him on taking office in televised remarks during a video call with officials and welcomed his intention to open a dialogue with Moscow.

Putin said that the joint foreign policy collaboration by Russia and China play an important stabilizing role in world affairs, Tass news agency reported.

“Russia and China’s joint work objectively play an important stabilizing role in international affairs,” Putin said.

Xi expressed readiness to work with Putin in the year ahead to take China-Russia relations to new heights, to address external uncertainties with stable and resilient bilateral relations, to promote the development and invigoration of both countries, and to uphold international fairness and justice, Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesperson posted on X.

Addressing Xi as his “dear friend”, Putin said Russia and China were building ties “on the basis of friendship, mutual trust and support”, despite external pressure.

Xi, quoted through a translator, similarly praised close cooperation between Moscow and Beijing, saying it helps “bring positive energy to reforming and developing the global system.”

He said bilateral trade was on the rise.

Moscow and Beijing have strengthened military and trade ties since Russia-Ukraine war started in February 2022, alarming the United States. China remains a close political and economic partner of Moscow.

Both sides have made much of Xi and Putin’s strong personal bond, with Xi calling the Russian leader his “best friend” and Putin lauding his “reliable partner”.

“I would like to thank you again for your support for Russia’s BRICS chairmanship. We are coordinating our steps on other multilateral platforms. We jointly press for building a fairer multipolar world order. We work to ensure indivisible security in the Eurasian space and in the world as a whole,” Putin said.

According to the Russian leader, last year was very productive for the two states.

“During our visit to China in May, we launched a large-scale project of cross years of culture. Useful talks took place in July on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s summit in Astana,” Putin said.

Trump had threatened to impose tariffs and other measures against China in his second term, while also hinting at ways in which the two rival powers could cooperate on issues such as regional conflicts and curbing the export of substances used in the production of fentanyl.

The Republican told reporters Monday after taking office that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had told him he wanted to make a peace deal and voiced hope that Putin would follow suit. He added that Putin would be destroying Russia by failing to make a deal.

Putin hailed Trump’s openness to dialogue as he spoke to Russia’s Security Council members shortly before the US president’s inauguration.

“We hear the statements from Trump and members of his team about their desire to restore direct contact with Russia, which were halted through no fault of ours by the outgoing administration,” Putin said on Monday.

”We also hear his statements about the need to do everything to prevent World War III. We certainly welcome such an approach and congratulate the U.S. president-elect on taking office.”

The Russian leader also stressed that dialogue between the two nations should be based on “equal basis and mutual respect, taking into account the important role our countries play on some key issues on the global agenda, including the strengthening of global stability and security.”

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