China-Russia relations: Xi Jinping says Beijing is willing to mediate with Moscow to end Ukraine war
- Dmitry Medvedev says two countries should advance cooperation in trade, energy, agriculture to resist pressure from outside
- Former Russian president says his country is ‘willing to resolve the problems it faces through peace talks’
The remarks were made as Xi hosted Medvedev, a loyal ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the chairman of United Russia, the ruling party, in downtown Beijing’s Diaoyutai Guest House on Wednesday.
Medvedev, who served as president of Russia between 2008 and 2012, was the first senior Russian official to visit Beijing since Xi secured an unprecedented third term as the Communist Party’s general secretary in October.
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Beijing’s ties with Moscow have been under scrutiny since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, as China refused to join the West in condemning Russia.
During the meeting on Wednesday, Xi told Medvedev that their countries’ ties had “withstood the test of international changes” over the past decade.
“China is willing to work with Russia to take bilateral relations forward in the new era and jointly promote global governance in a more just and reasonable direction,” Xi said, according to Xinhua.
In response, Medvedev said the two ruling parties should work together to “actively” push forward cooperation in trade, energy, agriculture, “to jointly resist all kinds of pressure and unjust measures exerted from outside, and promote greater development of the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation”.
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Medvedev’s trip to Beijing came at a time when both Moscow and Kyiv have reached out for support, as the war enters its 10th month and while the two sides are locked in a stalemate battle.
According to US officials, Zelensky will be hosted by US President Joe Biden in the White House and will address a joint session of Congress while Biden is expected to announce a package of nearly US$2 billion in security assistance for Ukraine.
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This week, Putin visited Minsk to talk with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko about trade, economic and “military issues given the very turbulent and chaotic situation around us”, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
According to Xinhua, Xi also told Medvedev that Beijing was willing to mediate between Russia and Ukraine.
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“China has always decided its position and policy according to the merits of the matter itself, upholding an objective and impartial position, and actively pursuing peace and promoting talks,” Xi said.
“[We] hope that all parties concerned will maintain rationality and restraint, engage in comprehensive dialogue and resolve their common concerns in the security field through political means.”
In response, Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said the Ukraine crisis “has its causes and is very complex”.
“Russia is willing to resolve the problems it faces through peace talks.”
