Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an agreement Thursday deepening their “strategic partnership” — a day after the Chinese autocrat took a swipe at the Trump administration.
The heads of state met in Moscow to discuss “the most important issues,” including the Ukraine conflict and Russia-US relations, according to the Kremlin press service.
“The talks addressed key issues concerning further development of the comprehensive strategic partnership, as well as current matters on the international and regional agendas,” the Kremlin said in a readout of the meeting.
It was the third time the adversary nations’ leaders met since the start of the year, according to the Kremlin.
Xi is in Moscow until Friday for Russia’s “Victory Day” celebrations marking the end of World War II.
The Chinese leader, in an editorial for the Russian Gazette on Wednesday, alluded to Beijing and Moscow’s shared frustration with the United States, noting that “again humankind has come to a crossroads of unity or division, dialogue or confrontation, win-win cooperation or zero-sum games.
“Eighty years ago, the forces of justice around the world, including China and the Soviet Union, united in courageous battles against their common foes and defeated the overbearing fascist powers,” Xi wrote.
“Eighty years later today, however, unilateralism, hegemonism, bullying, and coercive practices are severely undermining our world.”
Xi also commended Russia in the editorial for opposing “any form of ‘Taiwan independence,’ and it firmly supports all measures of the Chinese government and the Chinese people to achieve national reunification.”
China hawks have long warned that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could embolden China to invade Taiwan.
“No matter how the situation on the Taiwan island evolves or what troubles external forces may make,” he said, alluding to the United States, “the historical trend toward China’s ultimate and inevitable reunification is unstoppable.”
