Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to "deepen strategic coordination" in a video call on Tuesday, less than a day after President Donald Trump returned to the White House.
Putin and Xi both called each other "friends" and vowed to support each other's strategic interests regardless of the "current global situation," according to a transcript of the call posted on the Kremlin website.
This year, I am willing to work with you to push China-Russia relations to a new level and respond to external uncertainties by maintaining the stability and resilience of China-Russia relations. "
On January 21, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping at his official residence in Novo Ogaryovo outside Moscow. (Gavriil Grigorov/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
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Both men have vowed to support the United Nations-centered international system and defend the post-World War II global order ahead of their 80th anniversary this year - a nod to Putin's efforts to retake Ukraine, which many believe he is trying to retake . - Establishment of the Soviet Union.
Xi Jinping also told Putin about a call he had with Trump on Friday about TikTok, trade and Taiwan, Reuters reported.
The leaders of China and Russia also reportedly "expressed their willingness to establish relations with the United States on the basis of mutual benefit and mutual respect," Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters, adding that "if Trump If the team really shows interest, it will happen." this. "
"Our side also noted that we are ready to engage in dialogue with the new US administration on the conflict in Ukraine," he added.
On October 23, 2024, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping attended a reception held on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. (Alexander Zemlyanichenko/Reuters Pool)
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Neither the Chinese nor Russian appeals directly mentioned Ukraine, but Russia stressed that Beijing remains a major supporter of Moscow's economy as it is the largest consumer of Russian energy and a major source of revenue for Putin's war effort.
"Five years ago we jointly launched the Power of Siberia gas pipeline, and today Russia is China's main gas supplier," the Kremlin said in a statement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech at the Victory Day military parade in Moscow to mark the 79th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. (Tian Bing/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)
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Although Beijing says that Moscow is indeed directly involved in China's interests in Taiwan, and according to a release from the Chinese Communist Party, "Russia firmly supports Taiwan as an integral part of China's territory and firmly opposes any form of 'Taiwan independence.'"
Putin said: "I believe that the past year has been very good for us." We can confidently say that our foreign policy relations and the joint efforts of Russia and China objectively play an important stabilizing role in international affairs.