Xi, Putin pledge more cooperation in ‘new era’ of China-Russia ties
- Joint statement calls for two countries to collaborate on areas ranging from Southeast Asia to the Middle East and Latin America
- Leaders also raise concerns over Korean peninsula, urging parties to ‘maintain calm and restraint’ and calling on US to take ‘concrete actions’
“China and Russia will strengthen coordination on deepening cooperation with Asean, and continue to promote Asean centrality in the regional architecture,” the statement said.
As the United States and Western nations increasingly isolate Russia and China, Beijing has in recent years sought closer ties with countries in Asia.
China and Russia urged the parties to “maintain calm and restraint”, calling on the US to take “concrete actions” to respond to North Korea’s concerns and to facilitate the resumption of dialogue.
“The two sides have always insisted on maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula, including the realisation of denuclearisation on the peninsula, and jointly advocated the establishment of a peace and security mechanism on the peninsula,” the statement said.
“They believe that sanctions and pressure are neither desirable nor feasible, and that dialogue and consultation are the only way to resolve the peninsula issue.”
The statement urged parties to respond to China and Russia’s efforts to promote peace talks and play a constructive role.
Observers have suggested that the deal reflected Beijing’s growing influence in the Middle East and also sought to present China as a global peacemaker.
In the joint statement, Xi and Putin said they supported the sovereignty and independence of Syria and Libya, and that both China and Russia would work together to build a security framework for the Gulf region.
They also called for peace and stability in the Middle East, saying that issues should be resolved through dialogue while opposing “interference in the internal affairs of other countries in the region”.
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An expansion of cooperation in Africa was touched on, with both countries seeking to maintain a “sound and healthy” climate for international cooperation.
China and Russia would also attach greater importance to developing ties with Latin American and Caribbean countries, the statement said.
Xi and Putin described China-Russia ties as “mature, stable, independent and tenacious”, and “not affected by external influences”.
“Russia needs a prosperous and stable China, and China needs a strong and successful Russia,” they said in the statement.