Hours after a new massive Russian bombardment of Ukraine, its president, Vladimir Putin, exhibited again this Friday his alliance with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in a videoconference summit, as is already the tradition between them at the end of the year. In the first minutes of their virtual meeting, broadcast on Russian television and recorded by international agencies, Putin not only boasted of his good bilateral relations, but even invited Xi to visit Moscow in the spring.
“We are waiting for you, Mr. President. Dear friend, we await you next spring for a state visit to Moscow", Putin publicly announced, for whom this trip would "demonstrate to the world the closeness of relations between Russia and China". As reported by Reuters, the Russian president assured that these "are the best in history and withstand all tests." In full confrontation with the West over the invasion of Ukraine, and with Russia condemned by the international community as seen at the last G-20 summit in Bali, Putin recorded to Xi Jinping that "we share the same opinions on the causes , the course and the logic of the current transformation of the global geopolitical scenario”.
Putin recorded to Xi Jinping that "we share the same views on the causes, the course and the logic of the current transformation of the global geopolitical scenario"
In a much shorter response than Putin's lengthy introduction, Xi responded that, "in a changing and turbulent international arena, it is important that China and Russia remain faithful to the original aspiration of their cooperation, maintain strategic focus, enhance their coordination and continue to have mutual development opportunities and be global partners, to bring more benefits to the peoples of both countries and in the interest of stability in the world”.
At the end of the summary of the talk released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, a paragraph with three sentences mentions the "Ukrainian crisis", as defined by Beijing to avoid the word 'war'. Although it is quite brief, it is the juiciest and most interesting part, which is that Xi Jinping promised Putin "to continue working to build synergies in the international community and play a constructive role for the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis." In his opinion, "the road to peace will not be easy, but as long as both parties do not give up, there will always be a possibility for peace."
According to the statement, Xi emphasized that "the world has now reached another historic crossroads." As usual in the regime's messages, the Chinese president issued a veiled warning to the United States by demanding "reverse the mentality of the Cold War and the confrontation between blocs", also warning that "containment and suppression are unpopular and the Sanctions and interference are doomed to fail.” Reinforcing his alliance with Putin, Xi insisted that "China stands ready to unite in Russia and the world's progressive forces that oppose hegemony and power politics and reject all unilateralism, protectionism and harassment, firmly safeguard sovereignty, security and interest of the two countries and defend international justice”.
For his part, Putin said that "we aspire to strengthen cooperation between the Russian and Chinese armed forces," but Beijing's statement omits that part to avoid problems with the West over sanctions against Moscow. Trying to project an image of unity with Xi to reduce his international isolation, Putin supported China's sober claim to the democratic and independent island of Taiwan, hailing their joint efforts to counter "unprecedented pressure and provocations from the West."
"Friendship without limits"
Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, when the two met at the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics, Xi Jinping celebrated the "unlimited friendship" with Russia, in clear ideological opposition to the democracies of the West. But the military failure of the Kremlin, which has exposed the supposed power of the Russian Army and exposed its serious problems and falls, has weakened Putin and marginalized Moscow, cracking its alliance with China due to the global impact of the war. In his last meeting in person, during the Shanghai Security Organization summit in Uzbekistan in September, Putin admitted to Beijing's "questions and concerns" about the war.
Since its state ten months ago, the Chinese regime has strongly supported Moscow, blaming the situation on the US and NATO in their clear struggle with the West. But Xi Jinping may be forced to moderate his alliance with Putin due to his intention to turn to the international stage after spending almost three years locked up in his country due to the pandemic. Although Xi has not gone as far as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who snapped at Putin in Samarkand that "this is not the time for war", during the G-20 summit he met with all Western leaders, who seek his mediation. with Russia to achieve peace. Of all those meetings, the longest and most anticipated was the one he had with the President of the United States, Joe Biden. In their first face-to-face in person since he arrived at the White House in January 2021, both directors gave a truce to their battered bilateral relations, but the swords remain high due to the "microchip war" and the sober Chinese threat Taiwan.
damaged economy
After remaining in power during the XX Communist Party Congress held in October, Xi Jinping's position has also been weakened by the historic protests in China against Covid-zero restrictions, which even called for his resignation and questioned his authoritarian regime. In the midst of an explosion of contagions in the country, including the international community once again fearing a rebound in the pandemic due to its reopening of borders, neither is Xi interested in an international panorama so turbulent that it affects the recovery of its economy, greatly affected by these three years of closures and lockdowns.
Demonstration of unity between the two countries or China's attempt to appease the conflict, the result of this virtual summit with Putin will be seen in the coming weeks, whether or not the rain of missiles and drones on Ukraine continues and if Xi Jinping travels to Moscow in spring with a peace proposal under his arm.
