KAZAN: Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on Tuesday at the BRICS summit in Kazan, reaffirming their countries’ strong ties in a rapidly changing and “chaotic” world.
During their meeting, Xi emphasized the importance of the “profound friendship” between China and Russia, highlighting the ongoing collaboration between the two nations. “The world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, and the international situation is chaotic and intertwined,” he said as reported by AFP.
Xi said that China and Russia have “continuously deepened and expanded comprehensive strategic coordination and practical cooperation,” which he believes has significantly contributed to the development, revitalization, and modernization of both countries.
He further said that their collaboration has played a crucial role in promoting international equity and justice.
Putin said that Russian-Chinese cooperation serves as a stabilizing force in international relations. “Russian-Chinese cooperation in world affairs acts as one of the stabilising factors in the global arena,” Putin said. “We intend to further increase coordination in all multilateral platforms to ensure global security and a just world order,” he said.
The two leaders’ meeting comes against the backdrop of strengthened ties since Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine began in February 2022. The alliance, characterized by a “no limits” partnership declared just before the invasion, has raised concerns in Western nations as both countries pursue greater global influence.
Meanwhile, Swiss intelligence warned on Tuesday of the impact of shifting global power relations on security in Switzerland and beyond, voicing particular concern at growing military cooperation between China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.
In its annual report, the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) of Switzerland said that “Switzerland’s security environment continues to deteriorate from year to year,” pointing to a “dangerous and volatile period of transition to a new order of global power relations.”
The report emphasizes a “heavily polarised environment” marked by multiple crises and armed conflicts, particularly in Europe and its neighboring regions.
The intelligence agency emphasized that Europe is in a precarious position, with the ongoing war in Ukraine highlighting the continent’s dependence on the United States for security. “Switzerland is significantly less secure than it was just a few years ago,” the report stated.
The report warned that the political, economic, technological, and military relations among these nations have become “closer and stronger than ever.” The FIS pointed out that these states aim to diminish U.S. influence while opposing Western notions of political order.
