Conversation with President Xi: Putin wants stronger military cooperation

Kremlin chief Putin wants to deepen cooperation between the armed forces of Russia and China. He emphasized this in a phone call with President Xi. However, he was very reserved on this topic.

In recent months, Russia and China have held multiple military maneuvers. If Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin has his way, it shouldn’t stop there. In a video call with Chinese head of state Xi Jinping, he expressed his willingness to strengthen military cooperation between the two countries.

“We want to strengthen cooperation between the armed forces of Russia and China,” Putin told Xi. He called the Chinese president a “dear friend” and announced that Xi would come to Moscow for a meeting in the spring. This visit will “demonstrate to the world the closeness of Russian-Chinese relations”.

Putin: “We share the same views”

Putin praised the efforts of Moscow and Beijing to counter pressure from the West. “Against the backdrop of unprecedented pressure and provocations from the West, we are defending our positions and principles,” Putin said. According to him, “the coordination between Moscow and Beijing on the international stage” serves to create a “just world order based on international law”.

Cooperation at the military and technical levels contributes to security and stability and has a special place in Russian-Chinese cooperation, the Russian president said. “We share the same views on the causes, course and logic of the ongoing shift in the global geopolitical landscape.”

unity against the West

While Putin’s introductory speech lasted around eight minutes, Xi spoke less than half that time. China’s head of state apparently avoided commenting on the war in Ukraine. Xi told Putin that China wanted to maintain its “objective and fair” stance, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported.

China has noted that Russia has never refused to negotiate a solution to the conflict, Xi is quoted as saying. However, the road to peace talks will not run smoothly.

Xi demonstrated unity in his attitude towards the US-dominated West. It has been shown repeatedly that wanting to dominate and oppression are unpopular, Xi said. “Sanctions and interference are doomed to failure.” China is ready to increase strategic cooperation with Russia against the background of a “difficult” situation in the world at large.

Naval exercise off China’s coast

Since Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February, the government in Beijing has insisted that it is in no way involved in the conflict. Putin admitted in September that Xi had questions and concerns about the war.

Nevertheless, China is providing diplomatic support to its strategic ally Russia. In recent months, Russia and China have held several joint military exercises, including a naval exercise in the East China Sea this week.